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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bulb — for light
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. saw — the tool
  12. vault — a safe
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. perch — the fish
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. fine — high quality
  18. bulb — for light
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. saw — the tool
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. fine — all right
  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