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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: tear · rush · can · vault · branch · snap · file · calf

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. vault — a safe
  3. rush — hurry
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. can — a tin
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. file — a tool
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. can — a tin
  16. branch — a division
  17. tear — from crying
  18. can — to be able to
  19. file — a line of people
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. tear — to rip
  23. snap — to click
  24. tear — from crying

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