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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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. suit — to fit
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rock — a stone
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. mug — a face
  10. suit — clothes
  11. hand — in cards
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. suit — in cards
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. hand — help
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. vault — a safe

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