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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. mate — to breed
  7. roll — a list
  8. mug — a face
  9. bore — to drill
  10. dip — to sink
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mate — a friend
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. snap — to click
  16. sharp — clever
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. mug — to rob
  19. roll — a cake
  20. mate — a partner
  21. bore — to tire
  22. mug — a cup
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. dip — a sauce

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