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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: jam · drill · bore · trunk · track · ruler · toast · vault

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. drill — the tool
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. track — a song
  7. drill — army training
  8. track — a path
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. vault — a safe
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bore — to drill
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. track — to keep track
  22. toast — bread
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. ruler — for measuring

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