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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bore — to drill
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. pit — a hole
  7. cue — a hint
  8. bound — obliged
  9. court — of law
  10. march — the month
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. march — music
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bore — to tire
  15. court — of a king
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bound — tied together
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. cue — for pool
  21. court — for sport
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bound — certain
  24. march — the month

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