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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 116 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: mouse · key · band · saw · vault · stand · spell · bear

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. band — a music group
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. key — in music
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. stand — to bear
  7. saw — the tool
  8. vault — a safe
  9. saw — the tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. key — the most important part
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. band — a ring
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. spell — letters
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. key — for a lock
  20. spell — magic
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bear — the animal
  24. stand — on your feet

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