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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: cap · racket · patient · vault · roll · toast · present · mouse

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. present — there
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. present — a gift
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. cap — a lid
  10. roll — a cake
  11. cap — of ice
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. roll — a list
  20. cap — a hat
  21. vault — a safe
  22. toast — bread
  23. present — the time now
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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