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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. stand — to bear
  5. squash — to crush
  6. spell — letters
  7. bass — the fish
  8. stock — goods
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bass — low music
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spell — magic
  14. squash — the sport
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. spell — a short time
  20. vault — a safe
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stock — shares
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stand — on your feet

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