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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: club · jam · bore · scale · vault · board · patient · root

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. root — the cause
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bore — to drill
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. club — for dancing
  9. scale — in music
  10. board — a committee
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. scale — size or range
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. board — to get on
  15. club — a group
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. root — of a word
  18. root — of a plant
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. club — for golf
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. vault — a safe

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