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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: vault · chair · leaves · spring · bay · squash · rash · bound

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bound — obliged
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. rash — a series
  7. squash — the sport
  8. spring — of water
  9. rash — hasty
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. vault — a safe
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. spring — a coil
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. chair — a leader
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. spring — the season
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. squash — to crush

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