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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.

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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: bay · chip · vault · branch · chair · sharp · key · racket

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. branch — a division
  4. chair — a leader
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. key — for a lock
  7. sharp — clever
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. chip — for betting
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. chip — to eat
  22. key — in music
  23. vault — a safe
  24. chair — to sit on

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