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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 King held a masked ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. plane — a tool
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. ball — a great time
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. can — to be able to
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. can — a tin
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. vault — a safe
  23. can — a tin
  24. pitch — completely

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