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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. drill — a practice
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. drill — the tool
  9. firm — steady
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. firm — decided
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. drill — army training
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. firm — a company
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — for digging
  24. mouse — the animal

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