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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: plane · bay · rush · bound · toast · bat · vault · root

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. bat — the animal
  7. bound — certain
  8. bat — in an idiom
  9. root — of a word
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. bound — obliged
  12. vault — a safe
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. rush — hurry
  15. root — the cause
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. toast — bread
  20. root — of a plant
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bound — tied together

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