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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. ball — a great time
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mug — a cup
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bore — to tire
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. mug — a face
  16. ball — a dance
  17. saw — the tool
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mug — to rob
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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