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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 116 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
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: row · saw · cabinet · net · cell · vault · fine · ball

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. row — to paddle
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. saw — the tool
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cell — a phone
  8. net — in sport
  9. fine — high quality
  10. vault — a safe
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. net — for catching
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. fine — all right
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. net — after costs
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. row — a line
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. cell — in biology
  24. ball — a dance

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