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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: mug · kid · jam · craft · face · bear · deal · vault

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. face — to confront
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. face — to point toward
  9. vault — a safe
  10. face — part of the head
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bear — the animal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. craft — a skill
  16. craft — boats
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. kid — to tease
  19. bear — the animal
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — to rob
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. kid — child
  24. deal — a big deal

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