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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: mark · jam · file · cue · pitcher · present · stand · vault

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. present — there
  4. file — a tool
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. file — a document
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. cue — a signal
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. cue — a hint
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. present — the time now
  20. present — a gift
  21. file — a line of people
  22. vault — a safe
  23. mark — a trace
  24. cue — for pool

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