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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.

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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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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: branch · squash · face · vault · chair · firm · jam · pit

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. branch — a division
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. chair — a leader
  12. face — to point toward
  13. pit — a hole
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. vault — a safe
  16. squash — the sport
  17. firm — steady
  18. face — part of the head
  19. firm — a company
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. squash — to crush
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. face — to confront
  24. firm — decided

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