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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: ruler · bowl · fan · toast · prune · vault · craft · sharp

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. sharp — clever
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. prune — to trim
  11. toast — bread
  12. vault — a safe
  13. prune — to trim
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. craft — boats
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. craft — a skill

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