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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: saw · leaves · bank · tube · prune · rest · vault · mate

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. mate — to breed
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bank — of a river
  5. rest — a break
  6. saw — the tool
  7. prune — to trim
  8. rest — what's left
  9. bank — for money
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. mate — a friend
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rest — what's left
  17. bank — for money
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. vault — a safe
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mate — a partner
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. saw — the tool

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