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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. mug — a face
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bore — to tire
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. mug — a cup
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. spell — magic
  10. mug — to rob
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. suit — to fit
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bore — to drill
  20. can — a tin
  21. spell — letters
  22. suit — clothes
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

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