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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. wound — an injury
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. race — the arms race
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. wound — an injury
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. rock — music
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. race — a contest
  17. bore — to tire
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. race — humankind
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pitch — completely
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. lie — to recline

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