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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. season — of the year
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. face — to point toward
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. pass — a permit
  12. bore — to tire
  13. face — part of the head
  14. season — in sport
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. perch — the fish
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. face — to confront
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bore — to drill

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