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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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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: calf · vault · rock · mouse · chest · row · net · cue

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. chest — a box
  3. rock — a stone
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. row — a line
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — music
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. row — to paddle
  13. cue — for pool
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. cue — a signal
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. net — after costs
  18. cue — a hint
  19. chest — of your body
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. net — for catching
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. chest — of your body
  24. vault — a safe

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