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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 116 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: mine · track · craft · ruler · vault · mug · racket · cap

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. mine — for digging
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. track — a path
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. cap — a lid
  11. mug — to rob
  12. craft — a skill
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. craft — boats
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. track — a song
  17. cap — of ice
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. track — to keep track
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. mug — a face
  22. mug — a cup
  23. cap — a hat
  24. ruler — for measuring

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