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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 120 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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. spring — the season
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. track — a song
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. pop — music
  7. spring — of water
  8. file — a tool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mark — a grade
  12. file — a document
  13. mug — a face
  14. track — to keep track
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mark — a trace
  17. vault — a safe
  18. spring — a coil
  19. track — a path
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mug — a cup
  22. pop — soda
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pop — to visit

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