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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: mouse · last · lie · can · suit · stick · drill · pitcher

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. drill — a practice
  3. suit — in cards
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. suit — to fit
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — clothes
  8. last — finally
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. can — to be able to
  13. drill — the tool
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. drill — army training
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. last — to go on
  21. can — a tin
  22. last — final
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. pitcher — a jug

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