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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: vault · charge · ruler · snap · toast · foot · season · wave

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  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. ruler — a monarch
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. season — in sport
  4. vault — a safe
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. foot — a measure
  12. charge — in control
  13. season — of the year
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. charge — electricity
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. toast — bread
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. snap — to click
  23. charge — a price
  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