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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: clip · net · key · vault · board · temple · ball · fine

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. vault — a safe
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. ball — a great time
  6. clip — a video
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. net — in sport
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. fine — all right
  12. key — for a lock
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ball — a dance
  16. clip — to cut
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. key — in music
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — after costs
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. key — the most important part
  23. board — a committee
  24. clip — for paper

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