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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: jam · rock · lean · nail · hide · spell · drill · craft

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. craft — boats
  3. rock — music
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. drill — army training
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. drill — a practice
  9. rock — a stone
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. spell — a short time
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. lean — to bend
  16. craft — a skill
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lean — thin
  23. drill — the tool
  24. spell — magic

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