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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. saw — the tool
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. suit — in cards
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. suit — clothes
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. game — a match
  11. toast — bread
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. saw — the tool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. wake — a trail
  19. suit — to fit
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. vault — a safe
  23. game — wild animals
  24. pitcher — a jug

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