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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 · key · bound · vault · plane · deal · jam · rash

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  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. deal — to handle
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bound — certain
  4. key — for a lock
  5. key — the most important part
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bound — tied together
  10. rash — hasty
  11. season — in sport
  12. key — in music
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. plane — a tool
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. season — of the year
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. bound — obliged
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. vault — a safe
  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