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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: vault · perch · arm · bore · can · jam · trunk · temple

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. perch — the fish
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. vault — a safe
  11. can — a tin
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. bore — to drill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. bore — to tire
  24. arm — part of the body

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