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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. spring — of water
  3. deal — to handle
  4. suit — to fit
  5. cap — of ice
  6. spring — the season
  7. bore — to drill
  8. object — to protest
  9. cap — a lid
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. wake — a trail
  12. suit — in cards
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. cap — a hat
  16. suit — clothes
  17. spring — a coil
  18. bore — to tire
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. sharp — clever
  24. object — a thing

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