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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. spell — letters
  5. saw — the tool
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bass — low music
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. spell — magic
  13. stand — to bear
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. net — for catching
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. bore — to tire
  19. net — after costs
  20. bass — the fish
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. net — in sport
  23. bore — to drill
  24. stand — for spectators

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