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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: jam · date · foot · bowl · lash · shower · vault · press

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. press — to push
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. date — the fruit
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — newspapers
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. foot — a measure
  20. shower — to wash
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. shower — rain
  24. vault — a safe

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