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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
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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: can · toast · sharp · pitch · foot · bound · vault · craft

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bound — certain
  5. can — to be able to
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pitch — completely
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. vault — a safe
  11. sharp — clever
  12. craft — a skill
  13. craft — boats
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. can — a tin
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — bread
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. foot — a measure

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