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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 120 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
468
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: staff · tube · present · current · arm · vault · rock · mug

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mug — a face
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. present — a gift
  6. tube — the underground
  7. mug — a cup
  8. rock — a stone
  9. present — the time now
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. current — of water
  12. present — there
  13. staff — a stick
  14. staff — employees
  15. tube — a container
  16. current — electric
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. staff — employees
  20. current — happening now
  21. rock — music
  22. mug — to rob
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. vault — a safe

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