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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: drill · date · rush · bay · rock · fine · arm · stand

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rock — a stone
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. fine — all right
  6. rock — music
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. date — the fruit
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. drill — army training
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. fine — high quality
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. drill — a practice
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. arm — part of the body

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