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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 116 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. vault — a safe
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. spring — the season
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. stand — to bear
  11. spring — a coil
  12. spring — of water
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mark — a trace
  15. sharp — clever
  16. lie — to recline
  17. mark — a grade
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. perch — the fish
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pass — a permit
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. pass — to spend time

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