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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  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. drill — army training
  2. suit — clothes
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. suit — to fit
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. current — happening now
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. drill — a practice
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — to trim
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. drill — the tool
  19. current — of water
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. snap — to click
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. current — electric
  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