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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bore — to drill
  3. key — for a lock
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — a series
  8. cap — a lid
  9. net — in sport
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. key — the most important part
  12. cap — a hat
  13. net — after costs
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. fork — in a road
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. cap — of ice
  21. net — for catching
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. bore — to tire
  24. snap — to click

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