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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: can · nail · trunk · bass · pitcher · drill · pit · press

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. drill — army training
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bass — the fish
  6. press — a publisher
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. pit — a hole
  10. press — newspapers
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bass — low music
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. can — a tin
  16. press — to push
  17. drill — the tool
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. can — to be able to
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. can — a tin
  22. drill — a practice
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. pit — in a race

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