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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — a practice
  3. prune — to trim
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. bass — the fish
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. can — a tin
  9. squash — to crush
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. squash — the sport
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. prune — to trim
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. can — to be able to
  18. drill — army training
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bass — low music
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. can — a tin

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