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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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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: kid · rock · ball · vault · ruler · race · racket · toast

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. vault — a safe
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. ball — a dance
  8. race — humankind
  9. rock — a stone
  10. kid — child
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rock — music
  15. toast — bread
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. race — a contest
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. kid — to tease
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. race — the arms race

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