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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
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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: spring · squash · foot · rush · current · can · vault · staff

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. current — happening now
  5. rush — hurry
  6. can — a tin
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. vault — a safe
  10. spring — the season
  11. current — of water
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. current — electric
  14. staff — employees
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. squash — the sport
  17. spring — a coil
  18. staff — a stick
  19. staff — employees
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. spring — of water
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. foot — a measure
  24. squash — to crush

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