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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: current · object · saw · track · sharp · face · trunk · vault

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. object — a thing
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. current — electric
  6. current — happening now
  7. object — an aim
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. face — to confront
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. face — to point toward
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. sharp — clever
  15. vault — a safe
  16. object — to protest
  17. face — part of the head
  18. saw — the tool
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. track — a song
  21. track — to keep track
  22. current — of water
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. sharp — exactly

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