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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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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: vault · deal · object · calf · shower · stand · bear · net

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. shower — rain
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. vault — a safe
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. shower — to wash
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. object — a thing
  11. net — after costs
  12. object — an aim
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. bear — the animal
  15. object — to protest
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. net — for catching
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. net — in sport
  20. bear — the animal
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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