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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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bore — to tire
  6. mug — a cup
  7. mug — to rob
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bore — to drill
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. mug — a face
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. lie — to recline
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. pound — a weight
  22. stand — to bear
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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