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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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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: perch · snap · rock · suit · band · arm · ruler · vault

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. perch — the fish
  3. band — a music group
  4. vault — a safe
  5. rock — a stone
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. suit — clothes
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. suit — in cards
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rock — music
  21. suit — to fit
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. band — a ring

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