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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. fine — all right
  4. key — in music
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. vault — a safe
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. key — for a lock
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — high quality
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bulb — for light
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. game — wild animals
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — a stick
  20. game — a match
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. key — the most important part
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. staff — employees

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