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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitcher · nail · file · staff · vault · suit · bass · rest

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. staff — a stick
  3. vault — a safe
  4. suit — to fit
  5. file — a tool
  6. bass — the fish
  7. rest — a break
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. rest — what's left
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — employees
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bass — low music
  18. suit — in cards
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. file — a line of people
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rest — what's left

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