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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: root · board · saw · arm · calf · vault · leaves · last

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. root — the cause
  4. board — a committee
  5. last — to go on
  6. board — to get on
  7. saw — the tool
  8. root — of a plant
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. last — finally
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. saw — the tool
  13. vault — a safe
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. root — of a word
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. last — final

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