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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 120 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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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: pass · racket · spell · rock · cabinet · straw · vault · ball

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. vault — a safe
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. pass — a permit
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spell — magic
  17. rock — music
  18. ball — a dance
  19. spell — letters
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. rock — a stone
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. racket — for tennis

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