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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 polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. cap — of ice
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. spell — letters
  5. current — happening now
  6. bank — for money
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bank — for money
  12. current — electric
  13. cap — a hat
  14. drill — army training
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. spell — a short time
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. cap — a lid
  19. bank — of a river
  20. drill — the tool
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. current — of water
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. spell — magic

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