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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: rest · safe · wound · vault · bark · drill · press · mug

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  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. drill — army training
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. drill — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rest — what's left
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. press — newspapers
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. press — to push
  13. bark — to shout
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. press — a publisher
  16. wound — an injury
  17. rest — what's left
  18. mug — to rob
  19. wound — an injury
  20. drill — a practice
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — a face
  23. rest — a break
  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