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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 120 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 · cue · lash · can · nail · mate · squash · stock

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mate — a partner
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. squash — the sport
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. mate — a friend
  7. stock — shares
  8. squash — to crush
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. drill — a practice
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — for pool
  13. drill — army training
  14. can — a tin
  15. mate — to breed
  16. can — a tin
  17. cue — a signal
  18. drill — the tool
  19. stock — goods
  20. can — to be able to
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. nail — for a hammer

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