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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. wound — an injury
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. can — a tin
  6. wound — an injury
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. game — wild animals
  10. can — a tin
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. game — a match
  13. sharp — clever
  14. can — to be able to
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. vault — a safe
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — to get on
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mouse — for a computer

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