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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: date · fine · bore · vault · club · bass · prune · plane

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. club — for dancing
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. fine — high quality
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bore — to tire
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. vault — a safe
  12. club — a group
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. plane — a tool
  15. prune — to trim
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. bass — the fish
  19. club — for golf
  20. fine — all right
  21. bass — low music
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bore — to drill

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