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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: scale · can · swing · field · jam · shower · fork · vault

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. scale — size or range
  3. can — a tin
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. vault — a safe
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. can — to be able to
  9. swing — music
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. field — for sport
  15. swing — in golf
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. fork — in a road
  18. swing — to play on
  19. scale — in music
  20. can — a tin
  21. shower — to wash
  22. shower — rain
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. field — farmland

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