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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. present — a gift
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. toast — bread
  7. sharp — clever
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — of a river
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. present — there
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. can — a tin
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bank — for money
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — low music
  24. present — the time now

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