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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: saw · key · foot · stock · last · rush · vault · fan

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. key — in music
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. saw — the tool
  5. vault — a safe
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. key — for a lock
  9. last — finally
  10. saw — the tool
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. stock — goods
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rush — hurry
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. last — to go on
  17. key — the most important part
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stock — shares
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. last — final

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