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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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  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 — an arched ceiling
  2. object — an aim
  3. squash — to crush
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. object — a thing
  7. bound — certain
  8. current — electric
  9. vault — a safe
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. object — to protest
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. ball — a great time
  14. band — a ring
  15. current — of water
  16. plane — a tool
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. current — happening now
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — tied together
  22. squash — the sport
  23. band — a music group
  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