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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: bark · stand · lie · bank · ball · bulb · vault · rush

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. bank — of a river
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. lie — to recline
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bank — for money
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. ball — a dance
  21. vault — a safe
  22. rush — hurry
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. bank — for money

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