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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 120 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: capital · vault · can · spell · bank · calf · ruler · pitcher

  1. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a city
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. spell — letters
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. capital — money
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. spell — a short time
  12. bank — for money
  13. spell — magic
  14. can — a tin
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. can — a tin
  17. bank — of a river
  18. vault — a safe
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. bank — for money
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. calf — a young animal

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