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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: vault · fan · lean · sharp · can · mate · nail · mouse

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. lean — to bend
  4. can — a tin
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. lean — thin
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mate — a friend
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. sharp — clever
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. mate — to breed
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. vault — a safe
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mate — a partner
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. sharp — with an edge

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