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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. bound — tied together
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mug — a face
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bound — obliged
  7. spell — magic
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. spell — a short time
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cap — a lid
  14. spell — letters
  15. cap — of ice
  16. season — of the year
  17. bound — certain
  18. cap — a hat
  19. board — a committee
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. board — to get on
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. season — in sport

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