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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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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: chip · bank · vault · object · last · rush · cabinet · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. last — final
  3. bank — for money
  4. chip — for betting
  5. vault — a safe
  6. object — to protest
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bank — for money
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — hurry
  11. object — an aim
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. last — finally
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — to be able to
  18. chip — to eat
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. object — a thing
  22. can — a tin
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. last — to go on

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