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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: mark · dip · pit · saw · calf · leaves · prune · vault

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pit — a hole
  6. dip — to sink
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mark — a grade
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. prune — to trim
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. mark — a trace
  18. pit — in a race
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. prune — to trim

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