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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. pop — soda
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. drill — army training
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — a tin
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. drill — a practice
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pop — to visit
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pit — a hole
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. pit — in a race
  23. ball — a great time
  24. pop — music

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