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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: saw · board · wax · bore · ground · vault · staff · nail

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ground — the earth
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. staff — employees
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. wax — to grow
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. vault — a safe
  14. board — to get on
  15. staff — a stick
  16. ground — crushed
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bore — to drill
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. ground — a position
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. board — a committee
  23. bore — to tire
  24. staff — employees

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