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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bear · staff · pop · squash · vault · suit · fan · toast

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. staff — employees
  4. toast — bread
  5. suit — clothes
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. staff — employees
  12. pop — soda
  13. bear — the animal
  14. squash — to crush
  15. suit — to fit
  16. staff — a stick
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. suit — in cards
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. pop — to visit
  21. vault — a safe
  22. pop — music
  23. squash — the sport
  24. toast — the most admired

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