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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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468
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: vault · calf · net · scale · fine · stand · bulb · object

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. net — after costs
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fine — all right
  7. vault — a safe
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bulb — for light
  11. net — in sport
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. object — a thing
  15. fine — high quality
  16. object — an aim
  17. scale — size or range
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. stand — to bear
  20. object — to protest
  21. net — for catching
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. scale — in music

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