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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: cue · wound · cabinet · racket · track · jam · vault · calf

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. cue — for pool
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. vault — a safe
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. cue — a signal
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. wound — an injury
  14. track — to keep track
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wound — an injury
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. track — a song
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. track — a path
  24. cue — a hint

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