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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bulb — for light
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. bound — tied together
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. can — a tin
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. stock — goods
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — shares
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bound — obliged
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bound — certain
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. lie — to recline
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bulb — of a plant

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