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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
468
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 · racket · cap · staff · can · bound · mug · wax

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. cap — a lid
  3. can — a tin
  4. staff — a stick
  5. mug — a cup
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. bound — tied together
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. staff — employees
  12. drill — the tool
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — obliged
  17. staff — employees
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. drill — army training
  21. cap — a hat
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. wax — to grow
  24. cap — of ice

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