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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 124 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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. fork — in a road
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. drill — army training
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bore — to drill
  15. drill — the tool
  16. bore — to tire
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. saw — the tool
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. trunk — of a car

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