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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 116 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: vault · current · can · hand · trunk · pit · bear · spell

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. bear — the animal
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. hand — help
  9. pit — a hole
  10. bear — the animal
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. current — electric
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. spell — magic
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. can — a tin
  17. spell — letters
  18. vault — a safe
  19. pit — in a race
  20. spell — a short time
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. hand — in cards

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