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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bore — to drill
  3. wound — an injury
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. cue — a signal
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. cue — a hint
  8. stock — shares
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. wound — an injury
  11. stock — goods
  12. cue — for pool
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. pop — to visit
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. pop — soda
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bore — to tire
  23. pop — music
  24. mouse — the animal

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