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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mug — to rob
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. wake — a trail
  8. sharp — clever
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. mug — a face
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. drill — the tool
  13. suit — in cards
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. suit — clothes
  19. drill — army training
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. suit — to fit
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. fine — all right
  24. mug — a cup

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