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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. can — a tin
  3. prune — to trim
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. rock — a stone
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. can — a tin
  9. prune — to trim
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. tube — a container
  12. bank — of a river
  13. rock — music
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bore — to tire
  16. bank — for money
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. tube — the underground
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bore — to drill

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