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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: vault · fan · rush · perch · stock · ruler · bark · game

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. stock — goods
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. perch — the fish
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bark — to shout
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. game — wild animals
  17. game — a match
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — hurry
  22. stock — shares
  23. vault — a safe
  24. perch — for a bird

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