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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: jam · vault · roll · fine · lash · pitcher · pass · kid

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. vault — a safe
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. fine — high quality
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. roll — a cake
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. kid — to tease
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. kid — child
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fine — all right

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