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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: rush · rock · vault · cabinet · bank · fine · net · dip

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. fine — high quality
  3. dip — to sink
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. net — in sport
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. vault — a safe
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. net — after costs
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. bank — for money
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. rush — hurry
  20. net — for catching
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rock — music
  24. fine — a penalty

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