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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. net — after costs
  4. cap — of ice
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. net — in sport
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. bound — certain
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cap — a lid
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. vault — a safe
  16. net — for catching
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. court — of law
  19. cap — a hat
  20. court — for sport
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bound — tied together

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