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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. drill — the tool
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stock — goods
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. drill — a practice
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mug — a face
  10. stock — shares
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. drill — army training
  13. rest — what's left
  14. foot — a measure
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. saw — the tool
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mug — a cup
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mug — to rob
  24. date — the fruit

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