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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. land — a country
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. fine — high quality
  6. land — ground
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — to bear
  9. current — happening now
  10. vault — a safe
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. land — to come down
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. current — of water
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. branch — a division
  22. fine — all right
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. current — electric

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