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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · track · object · mark · club · vault · saw · pitcher

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. track — a path
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. vault — a safe
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. club — a group
  9. saw — the tool
  10. club — for golf
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. object — a thing
  15. saw — the tool
  16. object — an aim
  17. track — to keep track
  18. mark — a grade
  19. object — to protest
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. track — a song
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. club — for dancing

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