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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bore — to drill
  3. game — wild animals
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. spell — a short time
  6. game — a match
  7. firm — a company
  8. drill — army training
  9. bore — to tire
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. firm — decided
  13. drill — the tool
  14. drill — a practice
  15. spell — letters
  16. firm — steady
  17. pit — a hole
  18. spell — magic
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. charge — electricity
  22. charge — a price
  23. ball — a great time
  24. charge — in control

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