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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rock — a stone
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. pit — in a race
  6. rock — music
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. mate — to breed
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. suit — to fit
  14. wake — a trail
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. mate — a partner
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pit — a hole
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bore — to drill

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