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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. foot — a measure
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. ball — a dance
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. wound — an injury
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bore — to drill
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. sharp — clever
  17. plane — a tool
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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