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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.

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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: hide · nail · mug · pit · bear · rock · mark · drill

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. drill — a practice
  4. rock — music
  5. drill — the tool
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bear — the animal
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bear — the animal
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pit — a hole
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. drill — army training
  20. mug — to rob
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. mark — a grade
  24. pit — in a race

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