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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. date — the fruit
  5. can — a tin
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a dance
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. can — to be able to
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a hole
  14. file — a line of people
  15. vault — a safe
  16. game — wild animals
  17. wax — to grow
  18. file — a tool
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. game — a match
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. ball — a great time
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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