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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. mug — to rob
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. ball — a dance
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. staff — employees
  9. land — ground
  10. land — to come down
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. mug — a face
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. mug — a cup
  16. ball — a great time
  17. land — a country
  18. staff — a stick
  19. toast — bread
  20. staff — employees
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. fine — all right
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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