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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: current · club · saw · rock · face · file · object · vault

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. face — part of the head
  4. object — an aim
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. face — to point toward
  8. file — a tool
  9. file — a line of people
  10. club — a group
  11. rock — a stone
  12. vault — a safe
  13. current — electric
  14. current — happening now
  15. object — a thing
  16. club — for dancing
  17. saw — the tool
  18. current — of water
  19. saw — the tool
  20. face — to confront
  21. club — for golf
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. rock — music
  24. file — a document

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