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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. saw — the tool
  2. pass — a permit
  3. vault — a safe
  4. saw — the tool
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. cue — a signal
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. branch — a division
  9. face — to point toward
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. face — part of the head
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rush — hurry
  16. face — to confront
  17. cue — a hint
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. pass — to succeed
  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