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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: dip · net · vault · bank · can · pitcher · bulb · mine

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. bank — for money
  4. bulb — for light
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. net — after costs
  7. can — to be able to
  8. net — for catching
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bank — for money
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. net — in sport
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. can — a tin
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. dip — to sink
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mine — for digging
  21. bulb — for light
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. bank — of a river
  24. vault — a safe

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