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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. vault — a safe
  4. press — to push
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. ball — a dance
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. track — a song
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. track — to keep track
  13. press — newspapers
  14. track — a path
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ball — a great time
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. press — a publisher
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to bend
  24. ball — a round shape

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