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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.

Make a worksheet

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: vault · straw · pass · suit · wave · ball · season · pitcher

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. vault — a safe
  8. pass — a permit
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. season — of the year
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. ball — a great time
  16. suit — clothes
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. season — in sport
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pitcher — a jug

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