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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 120 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. board — a committee
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. firm — steady
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. scale — in music
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. firm — a company
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. bass — low music
  19. vault — a safe
  20. bass — the fish
  21. firm — decided
  22. scale — size or range
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. board — to get on

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