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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. chest — a box
  3. drill — a practice
  4. current — electric
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. chest — of your body
  10. fork — in a road
  11. drill — army training
  12. hand — in cards
  13. chest — of your body
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. drill — the tool
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. hand — help
  20. current — happening now
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. current — of water
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. foot — a measure

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