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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. scale — size or range
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. mate — to breed
  8. date — the fruit
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. mate — a friend
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. vault — a safe
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mate — a partner
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. scale — in music
  22. foot — a measure
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — a trainer

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