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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 116 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mate — to breed
  3. mug — a face
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bore — to tire
  7. spell — letters
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a cup
  10. cap — of ice
  11. bear — the animal
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — magic
  14. cap — a lid
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. mate — a partner
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lean — thin
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bore — gave birth

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