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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 124 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: saw · firm · prune · current · nail · mug · vault · ball

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mug — a cup
  3. current — electric
  4. ball — a great time
  5. vault — a safe
  6. prune — to trim
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. firm — steady
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mug — a face
  12. current — happening now
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. saw — the tool
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mug — to rob
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. firm — a company
  20. firm — decided
  21. current — of water
  22. ball — a dance
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. prune — the fruit

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