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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 was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. drill — a practice
  3. drill — the tool
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. tube — a container
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. cell — in biology
  9. can — a tin
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. tube — the underground
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. current — electric
  15. can — a tin
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. current — of water
  18. cell — a phone
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. drill — army training
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — to be able to
  23. branch — a division
  24. current — happening now

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