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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: lie · toast · stock · date · bank · ball · vault · mark

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. stock — shares
  3. bank — for money
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. ball — a dance
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — goods
  10. ball — a great time
  11. mark — a grade
  12. toast — bread
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. date — the fruit
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bank — of a river
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stock — a soup base

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