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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: leaves · vault · pitch · rush · bound · key · saw · perch

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  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. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. bound — obliged
  4. key — in music
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. perch — the fish
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bound — tied together
  10. saw — the tool
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pitch — completely
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bound — certain
  18. vault — a safe
  19. rush — hurry
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. key — the most important part
  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