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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 · root · fine · tube · current · bound · mouse · plane

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. root — of a word
  3. fine — all right
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. root — the cause
  8. current — of water
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. current — electric
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. plane — a tool
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. bound — tied together
  15. current — happening now
  16. bound — obliged
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. vault — a safe
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. tube — a container
  24. bound — certain

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