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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. board — a committee
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. board — to get on
  12. fine — high quality
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fine — all right
  18. wound — an injury
  19. bore — to drill
  20. wound — an injury
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. can — a tin
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bore — to tire

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