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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. suit — to fit
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. sharp — clever
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. suit — in cards
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. snap — to click
  24. bore — to tire

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