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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 124 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bore — to tire
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. season — of the year
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. season — in sport
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — a stone
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. rock — music
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bore — to drill
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. mate — a partner
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. season — to add flavour

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