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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. bore — to drill
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bore — to tire
  5. wound — an injury
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cue — a hint
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. sharp — clever
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. fine — all right
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fine — high quality
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. cue — for pool
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. wound — an injury

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