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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: board · vault · branch · stem · safe · spring · lash · ruler

  1. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. stem — to come from
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. spring — the season
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. board — a committee
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. spring — of water
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. spring — a coil
  24. board — to get on

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