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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 116 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: kick · leaves · vault · rock · rush · calf · stock · tube

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — the underground
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. vault — a safe
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. kick — in football
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. stock — shares
  17. rock — a stone
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rock — music
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. stock — goods
  24. tube — a container

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