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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. mark — a trace
  3. rest — a break
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. rest — what's left
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — a grade
  8. can — a tin
  9. tube — the underground
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. squash — to crush
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bore — to drill
  18. saw — the tool
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rest — what's left
  21. tube — a container
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. saw — the tool
  24. squash — the sport

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