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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 120 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: ruler · land · can · bear · firm · vault · nail · rash

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. land — to come down
  3. vault — a safe
  4. bear — the animal
  5. can — to be able to
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rash — hasty
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. firm — steady
  10. can — a tin
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. firm — decided
  13. rash — a series
  14. bear — the animal
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. firm — a company
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. land — ground
  22. can — a tin
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. land — a country

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