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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mark — a trace
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. mug — to rob
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. ground — crushed
  10. bound — certain
  11. vault — a safe
  12. lean — thin
  13. firm — steady
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ground — a position
  16. bound — tied together
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. mark — a grade
  19. ball — a great time
  20. mug — a face
  21. lean — to bend
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. ground — the earth

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