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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 116 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: cell · bark · saw · nail · key · pound · calf · vault

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. key — for a lock
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. cell — in biology
  8. vault — a safe
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bark — to shout
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. pound — a weight
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. saw — the tool
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. cell — a phone
  24. key — the most important part

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