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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: pop · ground · ruler · vault · roll · squash · plane · track

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. vault — a safe
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — crushed
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. pop — soda
  11. track — a path
  12. squash — the sport
  13. track — a song
  14. ground — the earth
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. pop — music
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. track — to keep track
  19. pop — to visit
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. roll — a cake
  22. squash — to crush
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. roll — a list

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