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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: spell · rush · firm · hand · bore · nail · scale · drill

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. drill — a practice
  3. scale — size or range
  4. firm — decided
  5. firm — a company
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. spell — letters
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. hand — help
  11. bore — to drill
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — magic
  14. hand — in cards
  15. scale — in music
  16. firm — steady
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. drill — army training
  19. drill — the tool
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. bore — to tire
  23. rush — hurry
  24. nail — for a hammer

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