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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
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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 · vault · bulb · kick · mate · lie · branch · can

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. mate — a partner
  3. can — a tin
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — to be able to
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. mate — to breed
  14. vault — a safe
  15. saw — the tool
  16. branch — a division
  17. kick — in football
  18. bulb — for light
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. bulb — for light
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. can — a tin
  24. mate — a friend

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