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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. charge — in control
  3. fine — all right
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. field — farmland
  7. field — a subject
  8. field — for sport
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bulb — for light
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. charge — electricity
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. charge — a price
  20. fine — high quality
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bulb — for light
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. vault — a safe

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com