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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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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: tube · rock · band · fine · pit · bay · pass · vault

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. vault — a safe
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. pass — a permit
  6. fine — high quality
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. fine — all right
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. band — a music group
  13. rock — music
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. tube — a container
  16. band — a ring
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pit — a hole
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. pit — in a race
  24. fine — a penalty

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