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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. foot — a measure
  7. spring — a coil
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. spring — the season
  12. perch — the fish
  13. vault — a safe
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — hurry
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. date — the fruit
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. spring — of water
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. rush — to hurry

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