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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. squash — the sport
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. saw — the tool
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wax — to grow
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bore — to drill
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. saw — the tool
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. squash — to crush
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bore — to tire

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