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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. saw — the tool
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. pit — in a race
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. rock — music
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — to tire
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pit — a hole
  24. lean — to bend

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