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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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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: fine · sharp · rock · key · net · vault · jam · can

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. net — after costs
  3. key — in music
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. key — the most important part
  9. rock — music
  10. fine — high quality
  11. rock — a stone
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. can — a tin
  14. net — for catching
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. sharp — clever
  20. vault — a safe
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. net — in sport
  23. key — for a lock
  24. fine — all right

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