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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. firm — decided
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. firm — a company
  5. net — in sport
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. net — for catching
  8. bear — the animal
  9. firm — steady
  10. pit — a hole
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. season — in sport
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bore — to tire
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — certain
  21. bear — the animal
  22. season — of the year
  23. net — after costs
  24. pit — in a race

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