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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 120 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: bulb · bass · sharp · plane · nail · kid · vault · rock

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. rock — a stone
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. bass — low music
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. kid — to tease
  10. kid — child
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. bulb — for light
  14. plane — a tool
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bulb — for light
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. rock — music
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. sharp — clever

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