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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 120 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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. branch — a division
  3. bank — for money
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. key — in music
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. pop — to visit
  9. key — for a lock
  10. fine — high quality
  11. rush — hurry
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. fine — all right
  14. pop — soda
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. key — the most important part
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. bank — for money
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. bank — of a river
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. pop — music
  24. wave — with your hand

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