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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 116 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: sharp · bass · press · vault · squash · suit · bound · fine

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. fine — high quality
  3. squash — the sport
  4. squash — to crush
  5. vault — a safe
  6. press — a publisher
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — clothes
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — clever
  12. fine — all right
  13. bass — low music
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. bound — obliged
  16. press — newspapers
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. press — to push
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. bound — tied together
  24. suit — in cards

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