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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. mug — a face
  5. mug — to rob
  6. wound — an injury
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. chip — to eat
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. wound — an injury
  12. plane — a tool
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. deal — to handle
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. chip — for betting
  21. bore — to drill
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. deal — an agreement

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