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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. clip — a video
  4. can — a tin
  5. bore — to drill
  6. can — to be able to
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. can — a tin
  11. rash — a series
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. clip — for paper
  15. kick — in football
  16. clip — to cut
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bore — to tire
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. bear — the animal
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rash — hasty

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