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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
468
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: mine · key · cue · mug · patient · nail · vault · lash

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. key — in music
  5. cue — a signal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a hint
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. key — for a lock
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. mine — for digging
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. mug — a face
  24. nail — on a finger

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