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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 120 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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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: fine · march · plane · vault · object · kick · deal · foot

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. object — a thing
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. plane — a tool
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. march — the month
  8. object — to protest
  9. fine — all right
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. march — music
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. march — the month
  14. fine — high quality
  15. deal — to handle
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. vault — a safe
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. object — an aim
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. foot — a measure
  24. plane — in geometry

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