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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: season · vault · board · key · content · safe · stand · rock

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. board — a committee
  4. rock — music
  5. season — of the year
  6. content — the amount
  7. season — in sport
  8. stand — to bear
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. vault — a safe
  11. rock — a stone
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. board — to get on
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. key — the most important part
  19. content — happy
  20. key — for a lock
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. key — in music
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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