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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: pass · rush · bulb · wound · fall · can · mug · vault

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. can — a tin
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. fall — the season
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. vault — a safe
  10. rush — hurry
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. mug — a cup
  15. pass — a permit
  16. fall — to drop
  17. wound — an injury
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mug — to rob
  20. can — a tin
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. wound — an injury
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mug — a face

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