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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 120 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: saw · vault · suit · ground · track · cabinet · arm · cap

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  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. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. track — a song
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. track — a path
  6. track — to keep track
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. ground — the earth
  9. cap — of ice
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. suit — clothes
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. vault — a safe
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. ground — crushed
  17. cap — a hat
  18. ground — a position
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cap — a lid
  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