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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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. bore — to drill
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. drill — a practice
  8. lie — to recline
  9. drill — army training
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bore — to tire
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. drill — the tool
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. game — wild animals
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. game — a match
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — to go away

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