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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: jam · lie · track · lean · plane · vault · bound · calf

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. plane — a tool
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. track — a song
  5. track — to keep track
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bound — tied together
  9. lie — to recline
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. bound — certain
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — a path
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. vault — a safe
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bound — obliged
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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