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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: object · jam · rock · drill · bass · lean · branch · vault

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. object — to protest
  3. branch — a division
  4. vault — a safe
  5. lean — to bend
  6. drill — army training
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. object — a thing
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bass — low music
  11. object — an aim
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rock — music
  17. lean — thin
  18. drill — the tool
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bass — the fish
  24. rock — to move gently

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