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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 farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bore — to drill
  6. wax — to grow
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. pass — a permit
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bore — to tire
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. pound — a weight
  24. pound — to hit hard

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