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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. board — to get on
  6. lean — thin
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — hurry
  10. vault — a safe
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. board — a committee
  14. stem — to come from
  15. can — to be able to
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. deal — to handle
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — to bend
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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