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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bore — to drill
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. board — a committee
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — a cake
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. board — to get on
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bore — to tire

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