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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.

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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: pitcher · squash · content · mark · staff · cabinet · vault · bank

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — a stick
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. squash — to crush
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. content — the amount
  11. bank — of a river
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. mark — a trace
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. vault — a safe
  16. staff — employees
  17. bank — for money
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. squash — the sport
  20. bank — for money
  21. content — happy
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. mark — a grade
  24. pitcher — a jug

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