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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: hide · root · drill · straw · season · nail · dip · charge

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. drill — a practice
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. charge — in control
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. season — in sport
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. root — of a plant
  11. dip — to sink
  12. root — the cause
  13. drill — the tool
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. drill — army training
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. root — of a word
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. charge — a price
  23. season — of the year
  24. charge — electricity

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