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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. dip — to sink
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. bore — to tire
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. rock — a stone
  20. branch — a division
  21. rush — hurry
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. rock — music

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