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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: vault · rash · date · current · staff · mug · foot · lean

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. date — the fruit
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. current — of water
  7. vault — a safe
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. current — happening now
  10. foot — a measure
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. staff — employees
  15. mug — a cup
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. lean — to bend
  18. lean — thin
  19. mug — to rob
  20. rash — hasty
  21. current — electric
  22. mug — a face
  23. staff — employees
  24. foot — the bottom

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