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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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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: cue · chip · staff · spring · content · lie · calf · vault

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. chip — for betting
  3. cue — a signal
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. spring — of water
  6. chip — to eat
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. vault — a safe
  9. spring — the season
  10. staff — employees
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. cue — for pool
  15. staff — employees
  16. cue — a hint
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. spring — a coil
  20. content — the amount
  21. staff — a stick
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. content — happy
  24. calf — a young animal

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