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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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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: drill · jam · suit · temple · mouse · fan · sharp · fork

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — a practice
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fork — in a road
  7. sharp — clever
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. suit — to fit
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. suit — in cards
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. drill — army training
  24. suit — clothes

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