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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · spell · capital · drill · ruler · charge

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. drill — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. spell — magic
  6. saw — the tool
  7. spell — a short time
  8. charge — electricity
  9. drill — a practice
  10. charge — in control
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. saw — the tool
  13. capital — money
  14. capital — a city
  15. drill — army training
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. charge — a price
  18. spell — letters

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