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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bound — tied together
  3. season — in sport
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. drill — a practice
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bound — certain
  16. tube — a container
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. season — of the year
  21. drill — the tool
  22. tube — the underground
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bound — obliged

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