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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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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 · hand · foot · leaves · calf · fan · bound · spell

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. bound — tied together
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bound — obliged
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. spell — magic
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. hand — help
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. foot — a measure
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bound — certain
  17. vault — a safe
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. spell — letters
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. calf — of the leg
  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