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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 120 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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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 · fork · safe · deal · cue · can · trunk · bowl

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. can — a tin
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — army training
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. can — a tin
  12. fork — in a road
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. cue — a signal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. drill — the tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. deal — an agreement

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