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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. vault — a safe
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. charge — electricity
  9. rest — a break
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. season — of the year
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mark — a grade
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. season — in sport
  19. mark — a trace
  20. rest — what's left
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — in control
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. sharp — clever

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