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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: vault · current · fine · court · pitcher · bay · dip · board

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. dip — to sink
  3. board — a committee
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. fine — high quality
  8. board — to get on
  9. current — of water
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. current — happening now
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. court — for sport
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. court — of a king
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. vault — a safe
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. court — of law
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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