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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. cell — in biology
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. drill — the tool
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. cell — a phone
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. drill — army training
  12. saw — the tool
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. deal — to handle
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. branch — a division
  19. bore — to tire
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bore — to drill
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — high quality
  24. deal — an agreement

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