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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — army training
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. spring — the season
  5. deal — to handle
  6. current — electric
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. spring — of water
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. current — happening now
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. current — of water
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. spring — a coil
  19. drill — a practice
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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