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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 need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. mark — a trace
  3. drill — a practice
  4. tube — a container
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. snap — to click
  7. current — of water
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. can — a tin
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mark — a grade
  12. rash — a series
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. can — a tin
  16. current — happening now
  17. drill — army training
  18. current — electric
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rash — hasty
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. tube — the underground
  24. tube — in a 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