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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 116 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. drill — a practice
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. root — of a word
  5. root — of a plant
  6. drill — army training
  7. root — the cause
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. file — a line of people
  10. drill — the tool
  11. pit — a hole
  12. mark — a trace
  13. file — a document
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. file — a tool
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. pit — in a race
  24. mouse — the animal

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