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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: lash · cell · craft · mouse · can · track · vault · hand

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. track — a song
  7. vault — a safe
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cell — in biology
  11. craft — boats
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. can — a tin
  14. hand — help
  15. hand — in cards
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. can — to be able to
  19. track — a path
  20. cell — a phone
  21. track — to keep track
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. craft — a skill
  24. mouse — the animal

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