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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 ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. lean — to bend
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. vault — a safe
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. degree — an amount
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. degree — from a university
  16. rush — hurry
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. degree — temperature
  20. lean — thin
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — to hurry

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