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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: tube · jam · arm · drill · sharp · fan · press · can

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. drill — army training
  4. press — newspapers
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. drill — a practice
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. press — a publisher
  11. sharp — clever
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. tube — a container
  18. can — a tin
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. press — to push
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. sharp — with an edge

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