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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: ground · club · last · vault · bound · face · coach · tube

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. ground — a position
  4. bound — certain
  5. tube — the underground
  6. face — to point toward
  7. last — to go on
  8. bound — obliged
  9. last — finally
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. club — for dancing
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. face — part of the head
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. tube — a container
  17. ground — crushed
  18. bound — tied together
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. club — a group
  21. last — final
  22. vault — a safe
  23. club — for golf
  24. face — to confront

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