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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 120 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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. vault — a safe
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bound — certain
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. stem — to come from
  12. press — newspapers
  13. press — a publisher
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bound — obliged
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. cue — for pool
  19. press — to push
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  24. perch — for a bird

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