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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: vault · swing · pass · key · last · date · lie · leaves

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. last — final
  4. swing — in golf
  5. last — finally
  6. date — the fruit
  7. swing — music
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. key — in music
  10. pass — a permit
  11. swing — to play on
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lie — to recline
  14. vault — a safe
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. key — for a lock
  23. last — to go on
  24. key — the most important part

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