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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. current — of water
  3. face — to point toward
  4. charge — in control
  5. tear — to rip
  6. face — to confront
  7. face — part of the head
  8. current — happening now
  9. charge — a price
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. charge — electricity
  14. tear — from crying
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. tear — from crying
  18. toast — bread
  19. current — electric
  20. vault — a safe
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. pitch — completely
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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