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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: kick · rash · spell · tube · bear · jam · stock · vault

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. tube — a container
  4. vault — a safe
  5. kick — in football
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. bear — the animal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. stock — goods
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — magic
  12. bear — the animal
  13. tube — the underground
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. stock — shares
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. spell — a short time
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. rash — a series

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