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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 120 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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pitch — completely
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. bore — to tire
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bass — low music
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stem — to come from
  21. ball — a great time
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. ruler — for measuring

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