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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
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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: spell · net · cabinet · ball · shower · wax · vault · fan

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. net — for catching
  4. net — after costs
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. ball — a dance
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. spell — a short time
  10. shower — to wash
  11. shower — rain
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. ball — a great time
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. vault — a safe
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — magic
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. wax — to grow
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. net — in sport

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