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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. current — happening now
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. drill — the tool
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. tube — the underground
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. tube — a container
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mark — a grade
  12. current — of water
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. drill — army training
  16. current — electric
  17. vault — a safe
  18. bark — to shout
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. rush — hurry
  23. drill — a practice
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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