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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mug — a cup
  5. can — a tin
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. shower — to wash
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — music
  11. can — to be able to
  12. current — happening now
  13. shower — rain
  14. can — a tin
  15. current — of water
  16. mug — a face
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. rock — a stone
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bark — to shout
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. current — electric

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