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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bear — the animal
  3. prune — to trim
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. prune — to trim
  8. bear — the animal
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wake — a trail
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bore — to drill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. mark — a trace
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bore — gave birth

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