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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · wax · cap · dip · saw · mouse · drill · mate

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mate — a friend
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. wax — to grow
  7. drill — the tool
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. saw — the tool
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. cap — a lid
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. mate — to breed
  17. drill — a practice
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cap — of ice
  22. cap — a hat
  23. dip — to sink
  24. saw — the tool

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