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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. charge — electricity
  6. object — an aim
  7. snap — to click
  8. charge — a price
  9. swing — in golf
  10. roll — a list
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. object — to protest
  15. vault — a safe
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. object — a thing
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. swing — music
  20. charge — in control
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. swing — to play on
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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