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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: pop · arm · calf · can · mine · dip · charge · vault

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. can — to be able to
  3. dip — to sink
  4. charge — electricity
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. pop — to visit
  7. vault — a safe
  8. pop — music
  9. pop — soda
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. mine — for digging
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. can — a tin
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. charge — in control
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. can — a tin
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. charge — a price
  24. mine — belonging to me

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