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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 120 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bulb — for light
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. tube — a container
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pit — a hole
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. ground — crushed
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. ground — a position
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bulb — of a plant

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