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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. key — in music
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bass — the fish
  6. hand — in cards
  7. last — finally
  8. can — a tin
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bass — low music
  11. last — to go on
  12. can — to be able to
  13. last — final
  14. craft — a skill
  15. ball — a great time
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. bore — to tire
  19. craft — boats
  20. ball — a dance
  21. can — a tin
  22. hand — help
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. key — for a lock

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