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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: cue · craft · bulb · lash · board · plane · mark · vault

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. craft — boats
  3. cue — a signal
  4. board — to get on
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. mark — a trace
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. cue — a hint
  12. craft — a skill
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bulb — for light
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. vault — a safe
  21. plane — a tool
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. board — a committee

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