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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: band · bulb · date · vault · calf · toast · leaves · hide

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. vault — a safe
  4. band — a ring
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. band — a music group
  12. bulb — for light
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. toast — bread
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. date — the fruit
  24. leaves — of a tree

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