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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. saw — the tool
  4. deal — to handle
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bore — to tire
  8. current — of water
  9. swing — music
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. charge — electricity
  13. swing — to play on
  14. charge — in control
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. current — electric
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. swing — in golf
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. saw — the tool
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. charge — a price
  24. current — happening now

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