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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. bear — the animal
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. fine — high quality
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bear — the animal
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mine — for digging
  14. bore — to tire
  15. tube — a container
  16. fine — all right
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bore — to drill
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. tube — the underground
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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