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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rash — a series
  5. mate — a friend
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. vault — a safe
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mate — a partner
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. toast — bread
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. stem — to come from
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. mate — to breed

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