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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: clip · tube · mine · root · temple · sharp · bear · vault

  1. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. sharp — clever
  4. bear — the animal
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. tube — a container
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. root — of a word
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. clip — a video
  13. root — the cause
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. root — of a plant
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bear — the animal
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mine — for digging
  23. vault — a safe
  24. clip — to cut

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