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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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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: suit · mouse · ground · chip · coach · race · face · vault

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. race — humankind
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. ground — crushed
  5. face — part of the head
  6. suit — clothes
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. race — the arms race
  9. chip — to eat
  10. face — to confront
  11. vault — a safe
  12. suit — to fit
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. chip — for betting
  16. race — a contest
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ground — a position
  22. ground — the earth
  23. suit — in cards
  24. face — to point toward

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