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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
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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: hide · sharp · vault · object · jam · nail · date · mouse

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. sharp — clever
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. date — the fruit
  6. object — a thing
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. object — an aim
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. vault — a safe
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. object — to protest
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. nail — for a hammer

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