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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: rash · nail · track · bulb · date · vault · suit · hand

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. suit — in cards
  3. track — a path
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. hand — help
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. hand — in cards
  9. vault — a safe
  10. rash — hasty
  11. track — a song
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. date — the fruit
  15. suit — to fit
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rash — a series
  19. suit — clothes
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. nail — on a finger

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