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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · arm · fan · ground · vault · last · lie · bowl

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. last — final
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. last — finally
  10. ground — a position
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ground — crushed
  13. lie — to recline
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ground — the earth
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. vault — a safe
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. last — to go on
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. lie — an untruth

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