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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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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: hide · spell · wind · cabinet · vault · squash · foot · mark

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. spell — a short time
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. wind — moving air
  6. wind — moving air
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. spell — letters
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a trace
  11. spell — magic
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mark — a grade
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. vault — a safe
  19. squash — the sport
  20. foot — a measure
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. squash — to crush
  24. cabinet — ministers

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