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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 116 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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a grade
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. staff — a stick
  6. can — a tin
  7. saw — the tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. staff — employees
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mark — a trace
  12. scale — size or range
  13. current — electric
  14. saw — the tool
  15. staff — employees
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. drill — army training
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. current — happening now
  20. drill — the tool
  21. scale — in music
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. current — of water
  24. safe — out of danger

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