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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 108 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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. net — in sport
  6. bore — to tire
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. net — after costs
  10. wax — to grow
  11. staff — employees
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. staff — a stick
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. mark — a trace
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. staff — employees
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. net — for catching

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