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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: trunk · ball · vault · coach · safe · snap · jam · file

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. vault — a safe
  5. ball — a great time
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. file — a tool
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. file — a document
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. snap — to click
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. ball — a dance
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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