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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. suit — to fit
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. sharp — clever
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — a grade
  8. can — a tin
  9. tear — from crying
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rush — hurry
  12. tear — from crying
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. can — to be able to
  15. suit — clothes
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. can — a tin
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. suit — in cards
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. tear — to rip

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