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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fine — high quality
  5. march — the month
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. can — to be able to
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. march — the month
  12. net — after costs
  13. net — for catching
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. pop — soda
  16. can — a tin
  17. vault — a safe
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. net — in sport
  20. march — music
  21. can — a tin
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. pop — to visit
  24. pop — music

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