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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: dip · ruler · shower · roll · ball · can · racket · drill

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. drill — the tool
  5. shower — to wash
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. can — a tin
  8. roll — a cake
  9. dip — to sink
  10. ball — a dance
  11. shower — rain
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. ball — a great time
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. drill — a practice
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. roll — a list
  24. racket — for tennis

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