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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: rash · vault · wound · face · toast · bound · file · roll

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. vault — a safe
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. rash — hasty
  6. wound — an injury
  7. roll — a list
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bound — certain
  10. file — a line of people
  11. file — a tool
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. file — a document
  14. face — to confront
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — tied together
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. roll — a cake
  22. toast — bread
  23. rash — a series
  24. rash — on the skin

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