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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 120 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: safe · bore · lash · board · sharp · vault · mug · branch

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. mug — a cup
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. branch — a division
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. mug — to rob
  10. bore — to drill
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mug — a face
  18. bore — to tire
  19. board — to get on
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. vault — a safe
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. safe — a strongbox

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