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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bore — to drill
  4. charge — electricity
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. charge — in control
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mate — to breed
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. mate — a friend
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. track — a path
  17. track — to keep track
  18. mate — a partner
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. track — a song
  21. charge — a price
  22. saw — the tool
  23. wax — to grow
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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