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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
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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: calf · can · leaves · vault · spring · face · bass · content

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. can — to be able to
  3. spring — of water
  4. face — to point toward
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. can — a tin
  7. content — happy
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. face — part of the head
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bass — the fish
  14. spring — the season
  15. can — a tin
  16. bass — low music
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. face — to confront
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. spring — a coil
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. content — the amount

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