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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: vault · track · safe · fall · object · key · fan · coach

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. object — to protest
  4. object — an aim
  5. fall — to drop
  6. object — a thing
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. key — for a lock
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. track — to keep track
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. key — the most important part
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. key — in music
  20. fall — the season
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. track — a path
  23. track — a song
  24. fall — to drop

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