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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. chip — for betting
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — army training
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. chip — to eat
  11. lie — to recline
  12. can — a tin
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. staff — employees
  19. drill — the tool
  20. can — to be able to
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. staff — employees
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. vault — a safe

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