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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: content · board · mate · vault · rock · squash · bank · pitcher

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. bank — for money
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. squash — the sport
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. bank — for money
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. rock — music
  11. vault — a safe
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. content — the amount
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. mate — to breed
  16. board — to get on
  17. rock — a stone
  18. board — a committee
  19. bank — of a river
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. squash — to crush
  22. content — happy
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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