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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: rest · ball · can · stock · key · press · drill · nail

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. ball — a great time
  4. stock — goods
  5. can — a tin
  6. drill — a practice
  7. press — newspapers
  8. ball — a dance
  9. press — a publisher
  10. key — in music
  11. rest — a break
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. rest — what's left
  14. stock — shares
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rest — what's left
  17. can — a tin
  18. press — to push
  19. key — for a lock
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. can — to be able to
  22. key — the most important part
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. drill — army training

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