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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ground — crushed
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. cue — a hint
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. ground — a position
  20. bore — to drill
  21. ground — the earth
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bowl — a football final

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