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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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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: hand · plane · jam · wound · fan · vault · key · calf

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. key — for a lock
  5. key — the most important part
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. wound — an injury
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. hand — in cards
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. hand — help
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. plane — a tool
  19. vault — a safe
  20. key — in music
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. wound — an injury

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