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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. deal — to handle
  3. vault — a safe
  4. mate — a friend
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. can — to be able to
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. drill — a practice
  11. lie — to recline
  12. cue — for pool
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. drill — army training
  15. can — a tin
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — a series
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mate — to breed
  20. drill — the tool
  21. can — a tin
  22. mate — a partner
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. cue — a signal

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