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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 120 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. bore — to tire
  4. charge — electricity
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bore — to drill
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — certain
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. perch — the fish
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. snap — to click
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — in control
  24. bound — obliged

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