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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 need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. rule — a law
  6. drill — a practice
  7. spell — a short time
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — in cards
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. rock — a stone
  14. drill — army training
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — music
  17. rule — government
  18. game — a match
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. suit — to fit
  21. foot — a measure
  22. spell — magic
  23. game — wild animals
  24. spell — letters

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