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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 116 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: net · pitcher · object · board · vault · suit · wax · spring

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. spring — of water
  3. board — to get on
  4. spring — a coil
  5. vault — a safe
  6. net — after costs
  7. suit — clothes
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. object — a thing
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. suit — to fit
  14. object — an aim
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. object — to protest
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. net — in sport
  20. suit — in cards
  21. spring — the season
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. net — for catching
  24. wax — to grow

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