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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. plane — a tool
  4. game — a match
  5. court — for sport
  6. content — happy
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. wax — to grow
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. court — of a king
  13. vault — a safe
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. content — the amount
  16. stand — to bear
  17. game — wild animals
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. court — of law
  24. plane — in geometry

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