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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bore — to drill
  3. ball — a dance
  4. bore — to tire
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fork — in a road
  8. bass — low music
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. perch — the fish
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. rock — music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. rush — hurry
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. ball — a great time
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. wax — to grow

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