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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: fan · stem · prune · key · deal · vault · ruler · rock

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. key — for a lock
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. prune — to trim
  6. key — in music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. vault — a safe
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. key — the most important part
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. stem — to come from
  17. deal — to handle
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — music
  20. prune — to trim
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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