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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.

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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: ball · bulb · mug · stand · fine · plane · scale · vault

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. ball — a dance
  4. fine — all right
  5. vault — a safe
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a great time
  9. fine — high quality
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. mug — a face
  12. scale — size or range
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. scale — in music
  15. mug — a cup
  16. plane — a tool
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mug — to rob
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. stand — to bear
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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