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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
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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: roll · vault · plane · spell · suit · dip · pitcher · patient

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. suit — to fit
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. roll — a list
  5. vault — a safe
  6. spell — letters
  7. dip — to sink
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. suit — in cards
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. roll — a cake
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — a short time
  21. plane — a tool
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. suit — clothes
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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