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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. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. game — a match
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bore — to tire
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. game — wild animals
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. bank — for money
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. cap — of ice
  19. wake — a trail
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. cap — a lid
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. cap — a hat
  24. bank — for money

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