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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. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. tear — from crying
  3. bear — the animal
  4. key — in music
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mug — a cup
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mug — a face
  11. clip — for paper
  12. key — for a lock
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mug — to rob
  16. clip — a video
  17. tear — from crying
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. clip — to cut
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. fan — to cool the air

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