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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bore — to tire
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. current — happening now
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bore — to drill
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. last — finally
  11. lie — to recline
  12. last — to go on
  13. last — final
  14. current — electric
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rash — a series
  17. current — of water
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rash — hasty
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — a measure
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. rash — on the skin

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