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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 116 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. tube — the underground
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rock — a stone
  8. cue — a hint
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. cue — for pool
  11. spring — of water
  12. bulb — for light
  13. tube — a container
  14. spring — the season
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. spring — a coil
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. cue — a signal
  23. vault — a safe
  24. mouse — the animal

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