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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: bore · cue · vault · roll · jam · pass · wake · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. bore — to drill
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bore — to tire
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. vault — a safe
  10. roll — a cake
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. roll — a list
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. wake — a trail
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. pass — a permit
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — a signal

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