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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: mark · vault · pitcher · spring · bound · deal · rock · calf

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rock — a stone
  4. spring — of water
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bound — obliged
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. bound — tied together
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a trace
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mark — a grade
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bound — certain
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. spring — a coil
  21. deal — to handle
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — to move gently

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