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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bound — certain
  11. rock — a stone
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a hole
  14. bound — obliged
  15. rock — music
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. stand — to bear
  19. vault — a safe
  20. rash — a series
  21. rash — hasty
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. rock — to move gently

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