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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 120 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: wave · nail · trunk · racket · temple · vault · plane · straw

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  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. plane — an aircraft
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. plane — a tool
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. plane — in geometry
  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