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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: bulb · stand · scale · branch · foot · race · leaves · vault

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. race — humankind
  7. scale — in music
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bulb — for light
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. race — a contest
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. stand — to bear
  17. branch — a division
  18. vault — a safe
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. race — the arms race

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