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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. board — a committee
  3. rock — a stone
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. net — after costs
  6. bank — of a river
  7. net — for catching
  8. hand — in cards
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. hand — help
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bank — for money
  17. board — to get on
  18. snap — to click
  19. net — in sport
  20. bank — for money
  21. rock — music
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. vault — a safe

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