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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mate — a friend
  3. plane — a tool
  4. bore — to tire
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bark — to shout
  19. mate — a partner
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. mate — to breed
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. bark — of a tree

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