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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. season — of the year
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. dip — to sink
  5. suit — to fit
  6. shower — to wash
  7. tube — a container
  8. bank — for money
  9. season — in sport
  10. tube — the underground
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. suit — in cards
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. bank — of a river
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. vault — a safe
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. suit — clothes
  24. shower — rain

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