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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  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 — gave birth
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bore — to drill
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. branch — a division
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rock — music
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bore — to tire
  19. rock — a stone
  20. cue — for pool
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cue — a hint
  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