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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. pitch — completely
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. ball — a great time
  5. can — a tin
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. track — a song
  8. drill — the tool
  9. foot — a measure
  10. track — a path
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. ball — a dance
  14. drill — army training
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. track — to keep track
  17. can — to be able to
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. drill — a practice
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. can — a tin
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. ruler — for measuring

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