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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: pass · bark · vault · board · lie · craft · nail · tube

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bark — to shout
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. vault — a safe
  8. board — a committee
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. craft — a skill
  12. board — to get on
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. pass — a permit
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. tube — the underground
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. lie — to recline
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. craft — boats
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. tube — a container
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — for a hammer

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