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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bore — to drill
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bore — to tire
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. object — a thing
  13. club — for golf
  14. club — a group
  15. key — in music
  16. object — an aim
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. object — to protest
  22. branch — a division
  23. club — for dancing
  24. rush — a thrill

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