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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: rule · land · hand · bore · suit · vault · toast · cabinet

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. land — a country
  4. rule — a law
  5. suit — in cards
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. land — ground
  9. land — to come down
  10. toast — bread
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. bore — to tire
  13. suit — clothes
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bore — to drill
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. hand — in cards
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. hand — help
  23. rule — government
  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