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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: row · snap · rock · spring · hide · vault · spell · rush

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. spring — the season
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — letters
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rock — a stone
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. spring — a coil
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. rock — music
  12. spell — a short time
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. spring — of water
  16. row — to paddle
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. row — a line
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. rush — hurry
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. snap — to click
  23. vault — a safe
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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