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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: vault · saw · lash · temple · cap · can · mug · pound

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. cap — of ice
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. cap — a hat
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. mug — to rob
  9. saw — the tool
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. can — a tin
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. vault — a safe
  19. saw — the tool
  20. can — a tin
  21. mug — a face
  22. mug — a cup
  23. pound — a weight
  24. cap — a lid

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