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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · wound · can · vault · rash · ruler · net · saw

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. wound — an injury
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — for catching
  8. can — a tin
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. can — a tin
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. net — in sport
  15. rash — a series
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rash — hasty
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. vault — a safe
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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