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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.

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: spring · saw · staff · game · vault · safe · kick · wax

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. saw — the tool
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. vault — a safe
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. kick — in football
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. game — a match
  15. spring — the season
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. spring — a coil
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. staff — employees
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. game — wild animals
  22. wax — to grow
  23. spring — of water
  24. saw — the tool

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