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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: fine · ball · lie · pitcher · rash · vault · pitch · fan

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. rash — a series
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitch — completely
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. ball — a dance
  16. lie — to recline
  17. ball — a great time
  18. fine — all right
  19. rash — hasty
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. vault — a safe
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. rash — on the skin

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