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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 had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. row — to paddle
  3. object — a thing
  4. suit — in cards
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. suit — to fit
  9. row — a line
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. object — an aim
  12. object — to protest
  13. can — to be able to
  14. drill — army training
  15. roll — a list
  16. can — a tin
  17. roll — a cake
  18. suit — clothes
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. drill — a practice
  23. wake — a trail
  24. row — a quarrel

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