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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: jam · cue · drill · wax · coach · vault · perch · stick

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. cue — a hint
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. drill — the tool
  7. wax — to grow
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. vault — a safe
  11. cue — a signal
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. drill — army training
  17. cue — for pool
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. perch — the fish
  24. wax — in the ear

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