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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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. toast — bread
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. key — the most important part
  6. key — in music
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. vault — a safe
  9. branch — a division
  10. key — for a lock
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. stock — goods
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. stock — shares
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. bore — to drill
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. foot — a measure
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. bore — to tire
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bore — gave birth

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