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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mug — a cup
  3. season — of the year
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. rule — a law
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mug — to rob
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. season — in sport
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. present — the time now
  16. bore — to tire
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. present — a gift
  19. rule — government
  20. mug — a face
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. present — there
  23. sharp — clever
  24. straw — a straw man

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