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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. pit — in a race
  3. fork — in a road
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. band — a music group
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bore — to tire
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. toast — bread
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. band — a ring
  18. foot — a measure
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. spring — of water
  21. pit — a hole
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. spring — the season
  24. toast — the most admired

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