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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: calf · chip · prune · rock · pitcher · track · vault · tube

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rock — music
  3. prune — to trim
  4. track — to keep track
  5. rock — a stone
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. chip — to eat
  10. track — a path
  11. track — a song
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. prune — to trim
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. vault — a safe
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. tube — a container
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. tube — the underground

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