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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 ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  10. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. mug — a cup
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. press — newspapers
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. tear — from crying
  10. tear — from crying
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. vault — a safe
  13. press — to push
  14. rock — a stone
  15. press — a publisher
  16. rock — music
  17. mug — to rob
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mug — a face
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. tear — to rip
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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