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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rash · jam · shower · pass · vault · chair · ground · rock

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. vault — a safe
  8. ground — the earth
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. rash — hasty
  11. shower — rain
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. ground — crushed
  17. ground — a position
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. rock — a stone
  21. shower — to wash
  22. rock — music
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. chair — a leader

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