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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.

Make a worksheet

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: net · fan · press · leaves · temple · vault · pound · roll

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. press — to push
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. press — newspapers
  6. vault — a safe
  7. roll — a list
  8. roll — a cake
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. net — for catching
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. net — in sport
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. net — after costs
  17. pound — a weight
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. press — a publisher
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. pound — to hit hard

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