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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: vault · leaves · board · drill · calf · coach · bank · ground

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. ground — a position
  3. bank — of a river
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. board — to get on
  6. drill — a practice
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. board — a committee
  14. ground — the earth
  15. bank — for money
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. vault — a safe
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bank — for money
  20. ground — crushed
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. drill — army training
  24. leaves — lets stay

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