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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: vault · wind · nail · leaves · stick · rock · plane · fan

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. plane — a tool
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. wind — moving air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rock — a stone
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. wind — moving air
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. vault — a safe
  20. rock — music
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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