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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 120 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: nail · rush · press · stock · vault · calf · drill · mate

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. drill — a practice
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stock — shares
  6. press — newspapers
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mate — to breed
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. rush — hurry
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mate — a partner
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. drill — the tool
  18. vault — a safe
  19. stock — goods
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. press — a publisher
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. drill — army training
  24. press — to push

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