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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: plane · bear · mouse · squash · branch · stand · rash · vault

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bear — the animal
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. rash — a series
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. branch — a division
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. plane — a tool
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. stand — to bear
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. squash — the sport
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. squash — to crush
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. rash — hasty
  24. vault — a safe

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