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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. club — for golf
  4. rash — hasty
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lie — to recline
  13. vault — a safe
  14. key — in music
  15. foot — a measure
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. key — the most important part
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. club — a group
  22. club — for dancing
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. key — for a lock

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