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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bore — to drill
  4. wake — a trail
  5. kick — in football
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. cue — a hint
  8. cue — for pool
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. ground — a position
  11. spell — magic
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. season — in sport
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. ground — crushed
  16. foot — a measure
  17. season — of the year
  18. spell — letters
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bore — to tire
  24. ground — the earth

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