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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. lean — to bend
  3. drill — the tool
  4. chip — to eat
  5. chip — for betting
  6. hand — in cards
  7. drill — a practice
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. lean — thin
  11. suit — to fit
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. hand — help
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bear — the animal
  20. drill — army training
  21. suit — clothes
  22. mug — a face
  23. bear — the animal
  24. suit — in cards

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