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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: ball · vault · fine · coach · snap · key · current · wake

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — electric
  4. fine — all right
  5. wake — a trail
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. current — happening now
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. current — of water
  10. vault — a safe
  11. ball — a dance
  12. key — the most important part
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. key — in music
  15. key — for a lock
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. snap — to click
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. fine — high quality

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