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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bore — to drill
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. spring — the season
  5. spring — a coil
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bore — to tire
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pop — music
  10. stock — goods
  11. pop — soda
  12. spring — of water
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. pop — to visit
  15. lean — to bend
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. stock — shares
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. sharp — clever
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. lean — thin

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