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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. stand — to bear
  5. squash — to crush
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. wax — to grow
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. spell — magic
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. spell — a short time
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. spell — letters
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. squash — the sport
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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