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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 116 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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. bore — to tire
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. mate — a friend
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. dip — to sink
  8. rock — music
  9. mug — a face
  10. rock — a stone
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mug — a cup
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mate — to breed
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. wake — a trail
  23. mug — to rob
  24. wake — before a funeral

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