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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. can — a tin
  3. drill — army training
  4. suit — in cards
  5. drill — a practice
  6. object — a thing
  7. suit — clothes
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. object — to protest
  10. object — an aim
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. hand — help
  14. can — a tin
  15. club — for golf
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. hand — in cards
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. drill — the tool
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. club — for dancing
  22. suit — to fit
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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