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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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. staff — employees
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. deal — to handle
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. saw — the tool
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. spell — a short time
  15. vault — a safe
  16. saw — the tool
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. spell — magic
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. rush — hurry
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. staff — employees
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. staff — a stick

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