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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. mug — to rob
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. bore — to drill
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. prune — to trim
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. mug — a cup
  12. chair — a leader
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. mug — a face
  18. prune — to trim
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mine — for digging
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bore — to tire
  24. chair — to sit on

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