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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 120 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bank — for money
  5. spell — letters
  6. spell — magic
  7. bound — tied together
  8. can — a tin
  9. ball — a dance
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. drill — the tool
  13. bank — of a river
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bound — obliged
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bank — for money
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bound — certain
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. drill — army training
  23. drill — a practice
  24. bore — to tire

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