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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: nail · tube · can · last · charge · ball · rock · bay

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. can — a tin
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. last — final
  5. tube — the underground
  6. ball — a dance
  7. can — a tin
  8. rock — a stone
  9. tube — a container
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. charge — a price
  13. last — finally
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. can — to be able to
  17. last — to go on
  18. rock — music
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. ball — a great time
  23. charge — electricity
  24. charge — in control

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