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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: mouse · vault · mug · lean · net · hand · chip · roll

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  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. hand — part of the body
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. roll — a list
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. chip — for betting
  9. vault — a safe
  10. hand — help
  11. chip — to eat
  12. roll — a cake
  13. lean — thin
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — in sport
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mug — a cup
  19. hand — in cards
  20. net — for catching
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. lean — to bend
  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