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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 124 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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. track — to keep track
  7. current — happening now
  8. track — a path
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bank — for money
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. current — electric
  13. bank — of a river
  14. current — of water
  15. drill — army training
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. bank — for money
  18. bass — low music
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. saw — the tool
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. track — a song
  24. bass — the fish

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