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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. file — a tool
  6. bore — to tire
  7. file — a line of people
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. staff — employees
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. ball — a great time
  12. staff — employees
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. rock — music
  15. toast — bread
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. rock — a stone
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. staff — a stick
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. file — a document
  24. hide — animal skin

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