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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. hand — help
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. tube — a container
  11. hand — in cards
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. roll — a list
  14. cue — a hint
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. cue — for pool
  17. roll — a cake
  18. tube — the underground
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. cue — a signal
  24. bass — low music

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