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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 116 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: mouse · pitcher · lie · file · can · squash · drill · fine

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. file — a tool
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. squash — to crush
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fine — all right
  9. can — a tin
  10. file — a document
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. drill — army training
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. squash — the sport
  18. drill — a practice
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. file — a line of people
  24. can — a tin

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