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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.

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: dip · perch · craft · fan · roll · foot · march · vault

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. roll — a list
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. foot — a measure
  5. march — music
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. march — the month
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. craft — a skill
  12. dip — to sink
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — the fish
  18. craft — boats
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. march — the month
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. roll — a cake
  24. vault — a safe

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