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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. shower — to wash
  3. suit — to fit
  4. band — a ring
  5. drill — a practice
  6. mark — a grade
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. mug — a cup
  10. drill — the tool
  11. band — a music group
  12. shower — rain
  13. drill — army training
  14. staff — employees
  15. current — happening now
  16. staff — a stick
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — in cards
  19. current — electric
  20. current — of water
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mug — to rob
  23. staff — employees
  24. mark — to pay attention

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