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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bore — to drill
  4. mark — a trace
  5. rash — a series
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. swing — music
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. mark — a grade
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bore — to tire
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. swing — to play on
  16. wound — an injury
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. swing — in golf
  24. bowl — a football final

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