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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: vault · rash · band · rush · temple · bore · lean · arm

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. band — a music group
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. vault — a safe
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bore — to tire
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bore — to drill
  15. lean — thin
  16. band — a ring
  17. rash — a series
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. lean — to bend
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rash — hasty

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