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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 ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bore — to tire
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. hand — help
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. mate — a friend
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. hand — in cards
  17. board — a committee
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mate — to breed
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. board — to get on
  24. mate — a partner

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