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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: net · can · vault · spell · scale · plane · mark · wind

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. wind — moving air
  3. scale — size or range
  4. mark — a trace
  5. net — in sport
  6. can — a tin
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. net — for catching
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. scale — in music
  16. net — after costs
  17. wind — moving air
  18. can — a tin
  19. vault — a safe
  20. spell — letters
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. mark — a grade
  23. can — to be able to
  24. plane — a tool

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