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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 124 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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. row — to paddle
  3. pop — soda
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. row — a line
  7. bore — to drill
  8. rash — a series
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. net — in sport
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mate — to breed
  14. pop — to visit
  15. foot — a measure
  16. mate — a partner
  17. net — for catching
  18. rash — hasty
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pop — music
  22. bore — to tire
  23. mate — a friend
  24. net — after costs

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