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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. suit — to fit
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. file — a document
  8. bore — to tire
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. file — a tool
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. suit — in cards
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. suit — clothes
  16. can — a tin
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. can — a tin
  19. bore — to drill
  20. file — a line of people
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bear — to put up with

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