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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: key · leaves · saw · pound · ruler · sharp · drill · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. drill — the tool
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. drill — army training
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. sharp — clever
  9. drill — a practice
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pound — a weight
  12. key — in music
  13. can — to be able to
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. can — a tin
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. saw — the tool
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. key — the most important part
  22. saw — the tool
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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