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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: row · mug · bulb · vault · march · fan · cell · arm

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. row — to paddle
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mug — a cup
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. march — the month
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. row — a line
  16. march — music
  17. march — the month
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bulb — for light
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. mug — a face
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. vault — a safe
  24. cell — a phone

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