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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: bay · vault · rock · content · foot · dip · saw · rash

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. saw — the tool
  8. vault — a safe
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. rock — music
  11. rash — hasty
  12. content — the amount
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. rash — a series
  15. content — happy
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. dip — to sink
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. foot — a measure
  24. content — videos and posts

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