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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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. wind — moving air
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. wax — to grow
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bore — to tire
  14. wind — moving air
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. club — a group
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. club — for golf
  20. mug — a face
  21. tube — the underground
  22. mug — to rob
  23. club — for dancing
  24. tube — a container

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