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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: bowl · current · file · stick · saw · temple · vault · bore

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. vault — a safe
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. file — a line of people
  6. bore — to drill
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. current — of water
  12. saw — the tool
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. current — electric
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. file — a tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. file — a document
  23. current — happening now
  24. bowl — a football final

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