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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — to rob
  3. race — humankind
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. suit — to fit
  7. race — a contest
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. suit — clothes
  10. race — the arms race
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. staff — employees
  13. prune — to trim
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. staff — employees
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bore — to tire
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. kick — in football
  20. staff — a stick
  21. suit — in cards
  22. prune — to trim
  23. bore — to drill
  24. mug — a cup

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