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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.

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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: plane · rock · tube · rush · wound · vault · bulb · bat

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bat — the animal
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. bulb — for light
  8. vault — a safe
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. tube — the underground
  12. wound — an injury
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. wound — an injury
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. tube — a container
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bulb — for light
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. rock — music

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