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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. cue — for pool
  2. net — in sport
  3. bore — to drill
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bore — to tire
  6. file — a tool
  7. prune — to trim
  8. net — for catching
  9. file — a document
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. net — after costs
  16. file — a line of people
  17. cue — a signal
  18. craft — boats
  19. cue — a hint
  20. craft — a skill
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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