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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. perch — the fish
  3. land — ground
  4. can — a tin
  5. drill — army training
  6. face — part of the head
  7. drill — the tool
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. current — of water
  10. land — to come down
  11. land — a country
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rock — a stone
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — music
  16. rash — a series
  17. face — to confront
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. current — happening now
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rash — hasty
  23. face — to point toward
  24. current — electric

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