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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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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: lash · vault · plane · safe · game · chest · pit · hide

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. game — wild animals
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. chest — of your body
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. pit — a hole
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. game — a match
  15. plane — a tool
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. chest — a box
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. chest — of your body
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. pit — in a race
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. vault — a safe

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