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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. pit — in a race
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. sharp — clever
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bore — to drill
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. bore — to tire
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. ball — a dance
  15. lie — to recline
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. pit — a hole

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