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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: pound · rush · foot · vault · coach · plane · current · perch

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. vault — a safe
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. current — electric
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. plane — a tool
  9. perch — the fish
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. foot — a measure
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. rush — hurry
  19. current — happening now
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. current — of water
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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