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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 120 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: cue · board · nail · trunk · vault · race · coach · pit

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. vault — a safe
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. race — the arms race
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. race — a contest
  9. board — to get on
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. cue — a signal
  12. pit — in a race
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pit — a hole
  15. board — a committee
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. race — humankind
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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