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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
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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: field · arm · rock · vault · coach · firm · cabinet · roll

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rock — a stone
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. roll — a cake
  6. field — farmland
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. field — a subject
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. roll — a list
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. field — for sport
  15. firm — decided
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. firm — steady
  18. rock — music
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. firm — a company
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. rock — to move gently
  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