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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: rule · racket · toast · can · saw · spring · nail · pit

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. can — a tin
  3. pit — a hole
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — a tin
  6. pit — in a race
  7. spring — the season
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rule — a law
  12. rule — government
  13. toast — bread
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. saw — the tool
  20. spring — of water
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. can — to be able to
  23. spring — a coil
  24. racket — a loud noise

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