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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 124 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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bulb — for light
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mate — to breed
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bore — to drill
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bulb — for light
  19. board — a committee
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. board — to get on
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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