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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. bear — the animal
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. wake — a trail
  8. rest — a break
  9. spell — letters
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. hand — in cards
  12. hand — help
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rest — what's left
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. rest — what's left
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. vault — a safe
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. spell — a short time
  24. spell — magic

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