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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: row · vault · rush · land · last · safe · suit · rash

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. last — final
  3. vault — a safe
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — a series
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. land — ground
  8. suit — clothes
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. land — a country
  14. last — finally
  15. row — to paddle
  16. last — to go on
  17. row — a line
  18. rush — hurry
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. land — to come down
  24. safe — out of danger

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