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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  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. shower — a meteor shower
  2. bulb — for light
  3. tube — the underground
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — a tin
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. tube — a container
  9. shower — rain
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. shower — to wash
  15. branch — a division
  16. bulb — for light
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. saw — the tool
  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