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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: game · trunk · branch · ruler · mark · roll · bay · vault

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. roll — a list
  5. mark — a grade
  6. game — a match
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. game — wild animals
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. roll — a cake
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. mark — a trace
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. vault — a safe
  23. branch — a division
  24. roll — on a roll

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