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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: scale · safe · can · mine · bay · track · pitcher · vault

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. track — a path
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. scale — size or range
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mine — for digging
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. can — a tin
  11. vault — a safe
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. can — a tin
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. scale — in music
  18. track — a song
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. track — to keep track

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