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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: spell · vault · suit · press · rush · trunk · fine · mine

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. press — newspapers
  3. suit — to fit
  4. spell — letters
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. spell — a short time
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. fine — all right
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. suit — clothes
  13. spell — magic
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. fine — high quality
  16. press — a publisher
  17. mine — for digging
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — hurry
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. vault — a safe
  23. suit — in cards
  24. press — to push

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