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

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. band — a ring
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. firm — steady
  5. pass — a permit
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bulb — for light
  11. can — a tin
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. branch — a division
  14. bulb — for light
  15. firm — decided
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. firm — a company
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. vault — a safe

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