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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: vault · spring · roll · branch · bore · ball · jam · bulb

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. roll — a list
  4. bulb — for light
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. spring — of water
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. spring — the season
  15. roll — a cake
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. vault — a safe
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. ball — a great time
  20. branch — a division
  21. ball — a dance
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. spring — a coil

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