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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 116 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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. bank — of a river
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bank — for money
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. scale — size or range
  8. mark — a trace
  9. bear — the animal
  10. sharp — clever
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. mug — a face
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bear — the animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. scale — in music
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bank — for money
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. vault — a safe
  24. mug — to rob

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