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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 · deal · lean · bore · can · staff · tube · current

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. current — of water
  3. drill — a practice
  4. can — a tin
  5. drill — army training
  6. tube — the underground
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. can — a tin
  9. lean — to bend
  10. bore — to drill
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lean — thin
  13. deal — to handle
  14. current — happening now
  15. staff — employees
  16. tube — a container
  17. current — electric
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. staff — employees
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bore — to tire
  24. staff — a stick

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