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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 120 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. suit — to fit
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. suit — clothes
  5. shower — rain
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. bulb — for light
  10. vault — a safe
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. fine — all right
  14. shower — to wash
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. snap — to click

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