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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wake — a trail
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. cue — a signal
  12. rush — hurry
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bore — to drill
  24. branch — a division

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