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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. rest — a break
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. roll — a list
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mug — a face
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bass — low music
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bass — the fish
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. vault — a safe
  22. roll — a cake
  23. rest — what's left
  24. fan — to cool the air

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