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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. cue — a signal
  3. mark — a trace
  4. cue — for pool
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. dip — to sink
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. foot — a measure
  14. key — the most important part
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bore — to tire
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. cue — a hint
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a grade
  24. key — in music

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