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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.

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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: pass · lash · lie · stock · vault · kid · coach · pit

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. stock — goods
  6. kid — child
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. kid — to tease
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. pit — a hole
  13. lie — to recline
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. pit — in a race
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. stock — shares
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. pass — to succeed

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