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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: saw · vault · jam · fine · foot · stock · perch · mate

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. saw — the tool
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. foot — a measure
  7. stock — goods
  8. mate — to breed
  9. stock — shares
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. fine — high quality
  12. mate — a partner
  13. saw — the tool
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — the fish
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. fine — all right
  19. vault — a safe
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. mate — a friend

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