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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. wax — to grow
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bank — for money
  6. wake — a trail
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bore — to tire
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bank — of a river
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. bank — for money
  24. stem — of a plant

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