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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 · hide · mug · press · can · game · board · jam

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. can — a tin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. mug — a face
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mug — to rob
  10. press — a publisher
  11. can — a tin
  12. game — wild animals
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. board — a committee
  18. press — newspapers
  19. mug — a cup
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. press — to push
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. board — to get on
  24. game — a match

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