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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: file · court · rash · vault · foot · saw · calf · cabinet

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — a series
  5. file — a document
  6. saw — the tool
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. file — a tool
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. court — for sport
  17. vault — a safe
  18. court — of law
  19. foot — a measure
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. file — a line of people
  23. rash — hasty
  24. court — of a king

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