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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. current — electric
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. current — of water
  7. staff — employees
  8. bore — to tire
  9. clip — a video
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. clip — for paper
  12. fall — to drop
  13. current — happening now
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. staff — employees
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. staff — a stick
  20. fall — the season
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. clip — to cut
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. fall — to drop

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