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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 116 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. track — a path
  3. track — a song
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. vault — a safe
  7. tube — a container
  8. branch — a division
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. current — happening now
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. stand — to bear
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. tube — the underground
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. track — to keep track
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rash — hasty
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. current — of water
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. current — electric

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