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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: drill · mark · mouse · ruler · bowl · saw · coach · wound

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wound — an injury
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. wound — an injury
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. drill — the tool
  9. drill — army training
  10. mark — a trace
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. drill — a practice
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ruler — a monarch

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