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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: vault · ball · fan · toast · bound · stick · rest · temple

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. bound — certain
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. ball — a dance
  9. toast — bread
  10. bound — obliged
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bound — tied together
  16. rest — a break
  17. ball — a great time
  18. vault — a safe
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rest — what's left
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rest — what's left

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