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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. rock — a stone
  5. chip — to eat
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. drill — army training
  8. suit — in cards
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. tube — a container
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. tube — the underground
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. bass — low music
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. suit — clothes
  19. chip — for betting
  20. suit — to fit
  21. rock — music
  22. bass — the fish
  23. drill — a practice
  24. nail — for a hammer

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