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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: hand · bark · arm · racket · foot · current · vault · pop

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  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. bark — of a tree
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. current — happening now
  4. pop — soda
  5. bark — to shout
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. current — electric
  9. hand — help
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. current — of water
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. pop — music
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. foot — a measure
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. hand — in cards
  22. pop — to visit
  23. arm — part of the body
  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