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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: bore · object · current · net · nail · chest · saw · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — happening now
  3. chest — of your body
  4. object — an aim
  5. bore — to drill
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. net — for catching
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. chest — of your body
  10. net — in sport
  11. object — a thing
  12. can — to be able to
  13. current — of water
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. object — to protest
  17. chest — a box
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. can — a tin
  20. bore — to tire
  21. saw — the tool
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. current — electric
  24. net — after costs

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