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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. suit — clothes
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. rash — hasty
  8. degree — temperature
  9. rash — a series
  10. bore — to tire
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cue — a hint
  14. degree — from a university
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. suit — to fit
  17. cue — a signal
  18. degree — an amount
  19. cue — for pool
  20. court — of law
  21. court — for sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. court — of a king
  24. pitcher — a jug

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