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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: season · drill · spell · can · nail · bank · mark · snap

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. drill — a practice
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. spell — a short time
  6. drill — the tool
  7. bank — for money
  8. mark — a grade
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. spell — letters
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. can — a tin
  13. season — of the year
  14. can — a tin
  15. drill — army training
  16. spell — magic
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bank — for money
  20. season — in sport
  21. snap — to click
  22. bank — of a river
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. nail — for a hammer

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