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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: lash · mine · plane · bound · can · stock · land · vault

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. bound — obliged
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bound — certain
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stock — goods
  9. can — a tin
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. land — ground
  13. land — a country
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. plane — a tool
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. land — to come down
  18. can — a tin
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. stock — shares
  22. bound — tied together
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. mine — for digging

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