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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 120 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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. spell — magic
  3. suit — in cards
  4. staff — a stick
  5. scale — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. suit — to fit
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. spell — letters
  11. ball — a great time
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. vault — a safe
  15. key — for a lock
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. scale — size or range
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. spell — a short time
  20. key — in music
  21. ball — a dance
  22. staff — employees
  23. suit — clothes
  24. staff — employees

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