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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: board · vault · drill · nail · cabinet · prune · date · sharp

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. drill — a practice
  5. board — to get on
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. sharp — clever
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. drill — the tool
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. vault — a safe
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. drill — army training
  21. prune — to trim
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. board — a committee

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