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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: sharp · perch · charge · vault · ball · mate · suit · cap

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. ball — a great time
  3. mate — a friend
  4. cap — of ice
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. cap — a lid
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. vault — a safe
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. charge — a price
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. sharp — clever
  13. ball — a dance
  14. mate — a partner
  15. charge — electricity
  16. cap — a hat
  17. charge — in control
  18. suit — clothes
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. perch — the fish
  21. mate — to breed
  22. suit — to fit
  23. suit — in cards
  24. perch — for a bird

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