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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: mouse · kick · drill · object · saw · leaves · fine · jam

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. object — a thing
  3. drill — army training
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. object — an aim
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. drill — a practice
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. fine — high quality
  14. drill — the tool
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. object — to protest
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. fine — all right
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. kick — in football

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