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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
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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: ground · bark · fan · rock · mate · mug · vault · stem

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. vault — a safe
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mate — a partner
  9. ground — the earth
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. rock — a stone
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rock — music
  18. mug — a cup
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. mate — a friend
  21. mug — a face
  22. bark — to shout
  23. ground — a position
  24. stem — to come from

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