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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.

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: spring · ruler · leaves · race · pitch · hand · vault · can

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pitch — completely
  5. can — a tin
  6. hand — in cards
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. hand — help
  9. can — a tin
  10. spring — of water
  11. can — to be able to
  12. spring — the season
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. vault — a safe
  16. race — the arms race
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. race — a contest
  24. race — humankind

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