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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: mouse · toast · drill · wound · current · hide · ruler · bass

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. drill — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. toast — bread
  8. bass — low music
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. current — happening now
  12. drill — a practice
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bass — the fish
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wound — an injury
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. wound — an injury
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mouse — the animal

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