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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 116 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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. mark — a trace
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. spring — a coil
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. wax — to grow
  14. spring — of water
  15. bore — to tire
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. drill — army training
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bore — to drill
  21. spring — the season
  22. drill — the tool
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — an eyelash

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