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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. dip — to sink
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. vault — a safe
  5. ball — a dance
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. file — a tool
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a document
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. file — a line of people
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. ball — a great time
  24. nail — on a finger

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