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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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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: net · cue · scale · charge · face · vault · cabinet · bulb

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. scale — size or range
  4. charge — in control
  5. face — to confront
  6. net — in sport
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. vault — a safe
  9. cue — a hint
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. net — after costs
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — electricity
  19. face — part of the head
  20. cue — for pool
  21. scale — in music
  22. bulb — for light
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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