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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. file — a line of people
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. current — electric
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. current — of water
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — the animal
  14. file — a tool
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. current — happening now
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. deal — to handle
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. dip — to sink
  22. drill — army training
  23. file — a document
  24. temple — side of the head

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