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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 120 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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. can — a tin
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. can — a tin
  5. drill — the tool
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — what's left
  8. fork — in a road
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. can — to be able to
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. face — to confront
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. drill — a practice
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. face — part of the head
  19. rest — a break
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wax — to grow
  22. stock — shares
  23. face — to point toward
  24. stock — goods

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