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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: drill · wax · perch · pitcher · foot · can · jam · bore

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — a practice
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — the fish
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bore — to drill
  11. can — a tin
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. wax — to grow
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bore — to tire
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. drill — army training
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. wax — in the ear

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