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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: band · arm · row · vault · net · bowl · swing · bulb

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. swing — in golf
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bulb — for light
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. row — to paddle
  14. net — for catching
  15. swing — to play on
  16. band — a ring
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. row — a line
  19. vault — a safe
  20. bulb — for light
  21. net — after costs
  22. band — a music group
  23. swing — music
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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