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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: swing · net · can · vault · toast · rock · mouse · staff

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. swing — in golf
  3. vault — a safe
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rock — music
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. staff — employees
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. staff — a stick
  12. can — a tin
  13. net — in sport
  14. net — for catching
  15. rock — a stone
  16. swing — music
  17. staff — employees
  18. toast — bread
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. can — a tin
  23. swing — to play on
  24. net — after costs

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