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

Word bank: toast · rock · chip · arm · kick · wax · firm · vault

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. vault — a safe
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. firm — a company
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. wax — to grow
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. firm — steady
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. firm — decided
  15. chip — to eat
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. toast — bread
  20. chip — for betting
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. rock — music
  24. kick — in football

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