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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: firm · land · plane · dip · branch · lean · vault · jam

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. lean — thin
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. land — to come down
  5. plane — a tool
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. firm — a company
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. land — a country
  13. land — ground
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. firm — decided
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. lean — to bend
  19. branch — a division
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. vault — a safe
  23. dip — to sink
  24. firm — steady

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