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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: toast · drill · rest · current · mouse · last · pitcher · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. rest — a break
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. current — of water
  8. drill — a practice
  9. last — finally
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. current — happening now
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. drill — the tool
  17. last — to go on
  18. drill — army training
  19. rest — what's left
  20. last — final
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. current — electric
  23. toast — bread
  24. rest — what's left

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