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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. rule — government
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mug — a face
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mate — to breed
  8. mug — to rob
  9. key — the most important part
  10. tube — the underground
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mine — for digging
  13. ball — a great time
  14. mate — a partner
  15. key — for a lock
  16. rule — a law
  17. mate — a friend
  18. tube — a container
  19. mug — a cup
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. key — in music
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. bore — to drill
  24. ball — a dance

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