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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: can · cue · rush · craft · perch · fine · bore · drill

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. drill — a practice
  3. craft — a skill
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. drill — the tool
  9. can — to be able to
  10. cue — for pool
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. bore — to tire
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. fine — all right
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cue — a hint
  17. rush — hurry
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. perch — the fish
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. cue — a signal
  23. fine — high quality
  24. drill — army training

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