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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: stock · drill · nail · temple · lash · mug · snap · board

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. drill — the tool
  3. board — a committee
  4. stock — shares
  5. mug — to rob
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mug — a face
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. mug — a cup
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. stock — goods
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. drill — army training
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. board — to get on
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. snap — to click
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. drill — a practice
  24. board — a flat piece

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