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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 116 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: stem · bound · mouse · cue · bowl · can · rush · vault

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. stem — to come from
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. can — to be able to
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. bound — obliged
  12. can — a tin
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bound — certain
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rush — hurry
  18. can — a tin
  19. vault — a safe
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. bound — tied together
  22. cue — a signal
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. bowl — to roll

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