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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.

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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: fork · vault · staff · lash · prune · stock · rest · plane

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. fork — in a road
  3. rest — what's left
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. stock — goods
  10. staff — employees
  11. rest — what's left
  12. vault — a safe
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. staff — a stick
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. rest — a break
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. staff — employees
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. prune — to trim
  24. stock — shares

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