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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 116 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: stick · track · rush · shower · bank · sharp · drill · hide

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. shower — to wash
  5. track — to keep track
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. sharp — clever
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. drill — the tool
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rush — hurry
  13. shower — rain
  14. track — a path
  15. drill — a practice
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. bank — for money
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. bank — for money
  20. track — a song
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. rush — to hurry

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