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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: cabinet · vault · leaves · rush · net · object · scale · press

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. press — newspapers
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. vault — a safe
  8. rush — hurry
  9. object — to protest
  10. object — an aim
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. press — a publisher
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. scale — size or range
  16. net — in sport
  17. scale — in music
  18. object — a thing
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. net — after costs
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. net — for catching
  24. press — to push

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