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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. cue — for pool
  4. roll — a cake
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mark — a grade
  7. court — of a king
  8. mark — a trace
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. vault — a safe
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — a signal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. court — for sport
  19. cue — a hint
  20. court — of law
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. roll — on a roll

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