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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. mate — a partner
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. current — of water
  6. mate — a friend
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lie — to recline
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bore — to tire
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. current — happening now
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. saw — the tool
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. current — electric
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. mate — to breed
  23. saw — the tool
  24. ruler — for measuring

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