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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. pit — a hole
  5. pit — in a race
  6. cue — a hint
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. court — of a king
  9. game — a match
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cue — for pool
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. court — for sport
  15. vault — a safe
  16. bulb — for light
  17. court — of law
  18. game — wild animals
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. kick — in football
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. cue — a signal
  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