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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 116 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: staff · trunk · coach · pass · vault · lie · cap · pitcher

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. staff — a stick
  3. staff — employees
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pass — a permit
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. cap — of ice
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. cap — a hat
  17. vault — a safe
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. cap — a lid
  20. staff — employees
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. pass — to spend time

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