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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 120 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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  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. ground — the earth
  3. net — for catching
  4. ground — a position
  5. can — to be able to
  6. press — newspapers
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. can — a tin
  9. bore — to tire
  10. net — in sport
  11. lean — to bend
  12. press — to push
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. net — after costs
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. press — a publisher
  20. can — a tin
  21. ground — crushed
  22. lean — thin
  23. lie — an untruth
  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