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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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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: board · foot · rash · tear · vault · jam · wave · wound

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. board — a committee
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. tear — to rip
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. tear — from crying
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — to get on
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. vault — a safe
  17. wound — an injury
  18. foot — a measure
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. rash — hasty
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. tear — from crying

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