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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 116 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: lie · spell · band · branch · pass · ruler · vault · shower

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. spell — a short time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. band — a music group
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. vault — a safe
  10. branch — a division
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. shower — to wash
  13. spell — letters
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. band — a ring
  16. lie — to recline
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. spell — magic
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. shower — rain
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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