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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
468
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: can · fine · vault · bass · ball · cabinet · wound · spring

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. wound — an injury
  3. ball — a great time
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bass — the fish
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. can — to be able to
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. wound — an injury
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. spring — of water
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. spring — the season
  18. spring — a coil
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. fine — all right
  23. bass — low music
  24. fine — high quality

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