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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: pass · vault · straw · arm · rush · stem · jam · trunk

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. rush — hurry
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. vault — a safe
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. pass — a permit
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. stem — to come from
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. rush — a thrill

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