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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: rule · tube · nail · pop · track · fine · can · drill

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. pop — to visit
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. can — a tin
  5. pop — soda
  6. rule — a law
  7. drill — the tool
  8. drill — a practice
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. can — to be able to
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. tube — a container
  13. track — a path
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fine — all right
  16. can — a tin
  17. drill — army training
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pop — music
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. track — to keep track
  22. track — a song
  23. rule — government
  24. fine — high quality

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