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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. wound — an injury
  3. key — the most important part
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. rash — hasty
  8. key — in music
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. vault — a safe
  11. key — for a lock
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. cue — a hint
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cue — a signal
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. pass — a permit
  22. rash — a series
  23. bulb — for light
  24. cue — for pool

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