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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mine — for digging
  12. rule — government
  13. branch — a division
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rule — a law
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. can — a tin
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. mug — to rob
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. mug — a face

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