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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.

Words on the sheet
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: wake · last · vault · leaves · lie · branch · key · tube

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. key — the most important part
  8. vault — a safe
  9. branch — a division
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. last — finally
  13. tube — the underground
  14. lie — to recline
  15. key — in music
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. tube — a container
  18. last — to go on
  19. last — final
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. key — for a lock
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. wake — a trail
  24. branch — of a tree

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