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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rest — what's left
  5. face — to point toward
  6. rest — a break
  7. bore — to drill
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — clothes
  10. rest — what's left
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. face — part of the head
  14. suit — in cards
  15. pit — a hole
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bore — to tire
  21. pit — in a race
  22. mark — a trace
  23. face — to confront
  24. suit — to fit

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