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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 116 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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. charge — a price
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. land — a country
  6. pass — a permit
  7. charge — in control
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. pitch — completely
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. land — ground
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. land — to come down
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. bore — to tire
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. stem — to come from
  24. pass — to succeed

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