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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. fork — in a road
  3. bore — to tire
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bore — to drill
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. rush — hurry
  15. mug — a face
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rash — a series
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mug — a cup

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