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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bass · cabinet · vault · safe · ball · fan · bay · squash

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. squash — to crush
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. squash — the sport
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. ball — a great time
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bass — the fish
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bass — low music
  23. vault — a safe
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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