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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rest — what's left
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bank — for money
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. staff — a stick
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. staff — employees
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. rush — hurry
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bank — of a river
  17. rest — a break
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. vault — a safe
  20. wound — an injury
  21. bank — for money
  22. rest — what's left
  23. fine — all right
  24. rush — to hurry

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