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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: lie · vault · current · jam · wound · bore · can · staff

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. vault — a safe
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. wound — an injury
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. current — of water
  11. bore — to drill
  12. wound — an injury
  13. can — to be able to
  14. current — happening now
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. can — a tin
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. current — electric
  19. staff — employees
  20. lie — to recline
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. staff — employees
  23. bore — to tire
  24. staff — a stick

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