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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: vault · board · court · fall · press · bore · fan · jam

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. fall — to drop
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. press — a publisher
  6. court — for sport
  7. court — of law
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. board — to get on
  10. court — of a king
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bore — to drill
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. bore — to tire
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. vault — a safe
  19. board — a committee
  20. fall — to drop
  21. press — to push
  22. fall — the season
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. fan — a supporter

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