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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. pass — a permit
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. object — an aim
  6. object — to protest
  7. bore — to drill
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — a trace
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bore — to tire
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. object — a thing
  21. stand — to bear
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. stand — on your feet

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