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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. chip — to eat
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. face — part of the head
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. face — to confront
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mug — to rob
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. season — in sport
  13. mug — a face
  14. chip — for betting
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. face — to point toward
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bore — to tire
  21. mug — a cup
  22. season — of the year
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bore — to drill

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