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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. rash — a series
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. date — the fruit
  10. ball — a great time
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. tube — a container
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. foot — a measure
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. rash — hasty
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. vault — a safe
  20. tube — the underground
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. ball — a dance

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