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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. season — in sport
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bore — to drill
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. season — of the year
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. spring — the season
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. board — a committee
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bore — to tire
  15. spring — of water
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. spring — a coil
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. dip — to sink

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