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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fine · snap · saw · nail · current · patient · vault · tube

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. vault — a safe
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. fine — all right
  7. current — of water
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — electric
  16. tube — a container
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. tube — the underground
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. fine — high quality
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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