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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. key — the most important part
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. key — in music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. charge — a price
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. charge — electricity
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. lie — to recline
  16. deal — to handle
  17. present — a gift
  18. row — to paddle
  19. bore — to tire
  20. present — there
  21. charge — in control
  22. row — a line
  23. present — the time now
  24. deal — an agreement

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