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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bore — to drill
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bore — to tire
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. track — a path
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. roll — a cake
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. track — a song
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. track — to keep track
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. trunk — of a tree

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