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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: vault · jam · spell · roll · calf · wax · plane · pit

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. roll — a list
  3. pit — in a race
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. spell — magic
  10. wax — to grow
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. pit — a hole
  14. vault — a safe
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. spell — a short time
  20. plane — a tool
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. spell — letters
  24. roll — a cake

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