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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: snap · can · jam · mouse · stand · ground · vault · prune

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. snap — to click
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. prune — to trim
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. ground — a position
  12. ground — the earth
  13. can — a tin
  14. stand — to bear
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. prune — to trim
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. can — a tin
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. ground — crushed
  24. vault — a safe

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