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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: root · bat · nail · prune · hide · current · ball · vault

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. root — the cause
  3. prune — to trim
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. root — of a word
  7. current — electric
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. bat — the animal
  11. ball — a dance
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. current — happening now
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. ball — a great time
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. vault — a safe
  21. root — of a plant
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. prune — to trim
  24. current — of water

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