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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. pass — a permit
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. ground — crushed
  6. ball — a dance
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. degree — temperature
  13. vault — a safe
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. ground — a position
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. degree — an amount
  18. ball — a great time
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. degree — from a university
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mine — for digging
  24. mine — an explosive

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