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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. bound — certain
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. bound — tied together
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cue — a hint
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. press — newspapers
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. net — in sport
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. shower — to wash
  13. press — to push
  14. press — a publisher
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bound — obliged
  17. net — for catching
  18. wake — a trail
  19. cue — for pool
  20. shower — rain
  21. net — after costs
  22. vault — a safe
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cue — a signal

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