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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: tube · mate · craft · calf · face · vault · key · coach

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. key — in music
  3. mate — to breed
  4. tube — a container
  5. craft — a skill
  6. mate — a partner
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. key — the most important part
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. craft — boats
  12. vault — a safe
  13. face — to confront
  14. mate — a friend
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. face — part of the head
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. key — for a lock
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. tube — the underground

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