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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.

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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: cabinet · charge · tear · vault · racket · bound · bass · temple

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. tear — from crying
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. tear — from crying
  6. bass — low music
  7. charge — electricity
  8. vault — a safe
  9. charge — a price
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bass — the fish
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. charge — in control
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. tear — to rip
  20. bound — obliged
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. bound — certain
  24. temple — a place of worship

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