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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. game — a match
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. vault — a safe
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. pop — music
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bound — certain
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. pop — soda
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. pop — to visit
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mark — a trace
  22. game — wild animals
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mark — a grade

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