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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · bat · can · racket · saw · rush · plane · drill

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. drill — a practice
  3. drill — the tool
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bulb — for light
  7. can — a tin
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. drill — army training
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bat — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. racket — for tennis
  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