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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. board — a committee
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. hand — in cards
  8. board — to get on
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bore — to drill
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. scale — size or range
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. hand — help
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. scale — in music
  24. bore — to tire

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