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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: bark · lie · jam · leaves · nail · bulb · suit · vault

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. vault — a safe
  9. suit — in cards
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. suit — to fit
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bark — to shout
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. suit — clothes
  22. bulb — for light
  23. lie — to recline
  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