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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. mug — a face
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. mug — a cup
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. drill — army training
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. current — happening now
  10. bore — to tire
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bore — to drill
  13. stand — to bear
  14. current — of water
  15. plane — a tool
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. current — electric
  19. drill — a practice
  20. mug — to rob
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. drill — the tool
  24. lash — to lash out

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