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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. track — a song
  3. bore — to drill
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. wake — a trail
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. dip — to sink
  10. prune — to trim
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. track — to keep track
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bore — to tire
  21. track — a path
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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