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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pit · capital · can · lash · mouse · spring · track · vault

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. spring — a coil
  3. pit — in a race
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. capital — a city
  7. can — to be able to
  8. track — a path
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. spring — of water
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. spring — the season
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. pit — a hole
  18. vault — a safe
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. track — a song
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. capital — money
  24. lash — to lash out

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