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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: ruler · coach · game · vault · fan · board · bulb · hide

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bulb — for light
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. game — a match
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. board — a committee
  18. bulb — for light
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. board — to get on
  23. game — wild animals
  24. ruler — for measuring

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