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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. suit — clothes
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. bark — to shout
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a great time
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. land — ground
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. land — a country
  15. vault — a safe
  16. branch — a division
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. roll — a list
  20. suit — to fit
  21. roll — a cake
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. land — to come down

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