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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. pit — in a race
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. deal — to handle
  5. wound — an injury
  6. fine — high quality
  7. saw — the tool
  8. saw — the tool
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. rush — hurry
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bore — to tire
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. date — the fruit
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. pit — a hole
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fine — all right
  24. date — on the calendar

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