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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. suit — clothes
  3. tube — a container
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. suit — to fit
  6. mark — a grade
  7. wound — an injury
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. suit — in cards
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. tube — the underground
  13. vault — a safe
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. ball — a great time
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. mark — a trace
  24. ball — a dance

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