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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cap — of ice
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bore — to tire
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cap — a lid
  15. sharp — clever
  16. bore — to drill
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cap — a hat
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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