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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. mine — for digging
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bore — to tire
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. face — to point toward
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. face — part of the head
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. face — to confront
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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