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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. cap — of ice
  3. ball — a great time
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. cap — a lid
  6. ball — a dance
  7. vault — a safe
  8. object — to protest
  9. cap — a hat
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rash — a series
  13. object — an aim
  14. rash — hasty
  15. charge — electricity
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. suit — in cards
  20. object — a thing
  21. suit — clothes
  22. charge — a price
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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