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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: bay · cabinet · vault · ground · fine · mouse · wax · face

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. vault — a safe
  6. wax — to grow
  7. fine — all right
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. fine — high quality
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. face — part of the head
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. face — to point toward
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. ground — crushed
  20. face — to confront
  21. ground — a position
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. cabinet — ministers

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