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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 120 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. wax — to grow
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. cue — for pool
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. vault — a safe
  14. cue — a signal
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. bank — for money
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. deal — to handle
  22. cue — a hint
  23. bank — of a river
  24. pound — a weight

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