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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. spell — letters
  4. spell — magic
  5. charge — in control
  6. spell — a short time
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bore — to tire
  12. charge — electricity
  13. row — to paddle
  14. bound — obliged
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. row — a line
  17. bound — certain
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. charge — a price
  24. bore — to drill

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