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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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. cue — a hint
  4. mug — a face
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. fine — high quality
  7. roll — a list
  8. mug — a cup
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. vault — a safe
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. spell — a short time
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. cue — a signal
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. cue — for pool
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. fine — all right
  21. mug — to rob
  22. toast — bread
  23. spell — letters
  24. spell — magic

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