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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bore — to drill
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. present — a gift
  7. track — a path
  8. bore — to tire
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. stem — to come from
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. present — there
  17. track — a song
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. track — to keep track
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wax — to grow
  23. present — the time now
  24. wax — in the ear

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