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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 ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bound — certain
  4. root — of a word
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. root — the cause
  16. root — of a plant
  17. row — a line
  18. vault — a safe
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. bound — tied together
  22. row — to paddle
  23. bound — obliged
  24. hide — to keep secret

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