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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. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. pitch — completely
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. degree — temperature
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. cue — a signal
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. cue — a hint
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. tube — a container
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. degree — an amount
  19. stand — to bear
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. tube — the underground
  23. cue — for pool
  24. vault — a safe

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