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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 116 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: ball · suit · nail · sharp · tube · cap · bore · rest

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. tube — a container
  9. rest — what's left
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. rest — a break
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bore — to tire
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cap — a hat
  18. cap — a lid
  19. suit — in cards
  20. tube — the underground
  21. ball — a dance
  22. suit — to fit
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rest — what's left

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