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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: fine · jam · saw · vault · charge · pitcher · pit · ball

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. fine — high quality
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. pit — a hole
  5. charge — electricity
  6. pit — in a race
  7. saw — the tool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. vault — a safe
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. ball — a dance
  13. charge — a price
  14. fine — all right
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. charge — in control
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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