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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. vault — a safe
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. stem — to come from
  9. squash — to crush
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. kick — in football
  13. plane — a tool
  14. band — a ring
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. squash — the sport
  18. band — a music group
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. calf — a young animal

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