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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: bear · nail · current · bowl · vault · key · lash · last

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. key — in music
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. key — for a lock
  5. current — of water
  6. bear — the animal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. last — to go on
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. current — electric
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. current — happening now
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. last — final
  19. bear — the animal
  20. last — finally
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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