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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. spring — a coil
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. spring — of water
  12. plane — a tool
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. rush — hurry
  19. chair — a leader
  20. vault — a safe
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. spring — the season
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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