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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. dip — to sink
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bore — to tire
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. current — of water
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. current — happening now
  18. kid — child
  19. current — electric
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. kid — to tease

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