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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: staff · drill · tube · calf · firm · deal · vault · branch

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. vault — a safe
  3. tube — the underground
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — a division
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. drill — a practice
  8. drill — the tool
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. deal — to handle
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. tube — a container
  17. staff — a stick
  18. firm — steady
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. staff — employees
  21. firm — a company
  22. staff — employees
  23. firm — decided
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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