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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: fan · craft · temple · vault · bowl · squash · chair · bass

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. squash — the sport
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. craft — a skill
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. squash — to crush
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. bass — the fish
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. vault — a safe
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. craft — boats
  24. chair — a leader

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