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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. scale — in music
  3. staff — employees
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. staff — employees
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. plane — a tool
  8. staff — a stick
  9. scale — size or range
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. mine — for digging
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. dip — to sink
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. scale — for weighing
  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