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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rash — a series
  4. squash — the sport
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. ball — a dance
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. squash — to crush
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. pitch — completely
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a great time
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bore — to tire
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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