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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. lie — to recline
  6. present — the time now
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. bore — to drill
  10. wound — an injury
  11. present — there
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. rock — music
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. present — a gift
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bore — to tire
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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