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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: kick · fan · lean · suit · jam · ruler · drill · track

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — in cards
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. track — a path
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. lean — to bend
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. track — a song
  14. drill — army training
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. suit — clothes
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. kick — in football
  21. track — to keep track
  22. drill — a practice
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. ruler — for measuring

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