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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 120 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
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: game · spring · vault · mouse · pit · mark · fine · board

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. spring — a coil
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pit — in a race
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. pit — a hole
  9. fine — all right
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. game — wild animals
  12. board — to get on
  13. spring — the season
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. game — a match
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. vault — a safe
  22. mark — a trace
  23. spring — of water
  24. board — a committee

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