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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. scale — in music
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bear — the animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. cap — a hat
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. vault — a safe
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. scale — size or range
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bear — the animal
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ball — a great time
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rush — hurry
  24. cap — of ice

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