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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. mate — a friend
  2. vault — a safe
  3. bulb — for light
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. rest — a break
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — what's left
  12. track — to keep track
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. track — a song
  18. mate — a partner
  19. track — a path
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. snap — to click
  22. mate — to breed
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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