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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 116 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: lash · chip · vault · scale · pit · ball · stem · track

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. scale — size or range
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. pit — a hole
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. track — a song
  9. ball — a great time
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. track — to keep track
  12. stem — to come from
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. chip — for betting
  16. pit — in a race
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. chip — to eat
  19. track — a path
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a dance
  24. scale — in music

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