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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. vault — a safe
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. staff — employees
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. staff — a stick
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lie — to recline
  17. date — the fruit
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. staff — employees
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. fall — to drop
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fall — the season
  24. fall — to drop

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