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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: can · mark · stick · rush · kick · fall · bowl · nail

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. fall — to drop
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — hurry
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. can — a tin
  12. kick — in football
  13. mark — a trace
  14. fall — the season
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. can — a tin
  20. fall — to drop
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. mark — a grade
  24. nail — on a finger

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