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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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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: vault · perch · snap · roll · calf · can · ruler · suit

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. can — a tin
  3. roll — a cake
  4. suit — to fit
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. can — a tin
  8. suit — clothes
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. suit — in cards
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. roll — a list
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. perch — the fish
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. vault — a safe
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. snap — to click

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