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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 120 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. bank — for money
  3. foot — a measure
  4. bore — to drill
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. tube — a container
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. content — the amount
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. season — of the year
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mate — a partner
  18. season — in sport
  19. mate — to breed
  20. tube — the underground
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bank — for money
  24. content — happy

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