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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: prune · nail · toast · bass · can · chip · vault · rush

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. bass — the fish
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. chip — for betting
  6. can — a tin
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. chip — to eat
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bass — low music
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. rush — hurry
  17. prune — to trim
  18. vault — a safe
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. prune — to trim
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. toast — bread
  23. can — to be able to
  24. nail — for a hammer

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