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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 help me carry this box?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. ground — the earth
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. foot — a measure
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. can — a tin
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bore — to tire
  14. spell — magic
  15. ground — a position
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. spell — letters
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. spell — a short time
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ground — crushed
  24. can — a tin

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