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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. plane — a tool
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — newspapers
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bound — tied together
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. ball — a dance
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. stand — to bear
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ball — a great time
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bound — certain
  21. press — to push
  22. vault — a safe
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. temple — side of the head

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