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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. bore — to drill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. squash — to crush
  8. bear — the animal
  9. charge — in control
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. charge — electricity
  12. bore — to tire
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mine — for digging
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. stem — to come from
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. squash — the sport
  24. bear — to put up with

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