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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. bore — to drill
  4. mug — a face
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. kick — in football
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. pass — a permit
  10. mug — to rob
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. stock — goods
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bore — to tire
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. sharp — clever

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