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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. drill — a practice
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. suit — in cards
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. game — wild animals
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. drill — the tool
  9. spell — magic
  10. suit — to fit
  11. game — a match
  12. craft — a skill
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. spell — letters
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spell — a short time
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. wake — a trail
  22. pound — a weight
  23. craft — boats
  24. suit — clothes

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