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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mug — to rob
  4. fork — in a road
  5. bore — to tire
  6. spell — magic
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bore — to drill
  9. bat — the animal
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. spell — letters
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — a permit
  20. plane — a tool
  21. fine — all right
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pass — to succeed

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