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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. fine — all right
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rush — hurry
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. object — a thing
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. object — to protest
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. vault — a safe
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fine — high quality

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