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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: band · game · drill · can · sharp · mate · suit · rock

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. mate — to breed
  3. game — a match
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. can — to be able to
  8. suit — clothes
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — a practice
  11. suit — in cards
  12. sharp — clever
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. band — a music group
  16. drill — army training
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — a stone
  19. suit — to fit
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. mate — a partner
  22. band — a ring
  23. game — wild animals
  24. mate — a friend

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