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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: nail · can · mine · vault · jam · cabinet · fall · bay

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. vault — a safe
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. fall — to drop
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. mine — for digging
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fall — to drop
  19. fall — the season
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. can — a tin
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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