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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.

Make a worksheet

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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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: bound · board · lash · pitcher · vault · can

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — a committee
  5. bound — certain
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. bound — obliged
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. can — a tin
  15. vault — a safe
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bound — tied together

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