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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: lie · prune · roll · vault · pitcher · jam · key · tube

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. key — in music
  4. prune — to trim
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. key — for a lock
  9. prune — to trim
  10. tube — a container
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. key — the most important part
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. lie — to recline
  15. tube — the underground
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. vault — a safe
  24. lie — an untruth

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