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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: leaves · wake · key · pitch · lash · chip · vault · staff

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  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. lash — an eyelash
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. key — the most important part
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitch — completely
  10. staff — employees
  11. wake — a trail
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. key — in music
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. staff — a stick
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. key — for a lock
  19. chip — to eat
  20. staff — employees
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. chip — for betting
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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