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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: trunk · lean · ball · perch · suit · lie · spring · vault

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. lean — to bend
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. ball — a dance
  5. lie — to recline
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. suit — clothes
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. perch — the fish
  11. suit — to fit
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. lean — thin
  14. spring — of water
  15. vault — a safe
  16. spring — the season
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. ball — a great time
  21. spring — a coil
  22. suit — in cards
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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