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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. face — to confront
  4. ball — a dance
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. ball — a great time
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. rock — music
  11. tube — a container
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. face — to point toward
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. vault — a safe
  17. rock — a stone
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — the underground
  20. face — part of the head
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. nail — for a hammer

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