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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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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. spring — of water
  5. bore — to tire
  6. cue — a hint
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. squash — to crush
  9. cue — a signal
  10. bulb — for light
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. ball — a great time
  14. last — to go on
  15. squash — the sport
  16. last — finally
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. cue — for pool
  19. spring — a coil
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. spring — the season
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. last — final

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