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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. shower — to wash
  5. bank — of a river
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. firm — a company
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. drill — the tool
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bank — for money
  12. drill — a practice
  13. drill — army training
  14. bass — low music
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. firm — steady
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. shower — rain
  22. toast — bread
  23. bass — the fish
  24. firm — decided

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