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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 120 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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. rest — a break
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — what's left
  6. pit — a hole
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. pit — in a race
  9. hand — help
  10. bulb — for light
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. hand — in cards
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. branch — a division
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. board — to get on
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. vault — a safe
  21. board — a committee
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. branch — of a tree

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