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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
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: field · vault · mine · root · rush · cabinet · pitch · jam

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. vault — a safe
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. rush — hurry
  6. field — for sport
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. pitch — completely
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. field — a subject
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. field — farmland
  14. root — of a plant
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. root — of a word
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. root — the cause
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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