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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 had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. row — to paddle
  4. bank — for money
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. season — in sport
  7. key — in music
  8. bank — for money
  9. key — the most important part
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. wound — an injury
  12. cue — a signal
  13. bank — of a river
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. drill — army training
  17. season — of the year
  18. key — for a lock
  19. drill — the tool
  20. wound — an injury
  21. cue — for pool
  22. cue — a hint
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. row — a line

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