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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. key — for a lock
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. ball — a great time
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. ball — a dance
  7. sharp — clever
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — the most important part
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. key — in music
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. toast — bread
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. racket — a loud noise

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