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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. net — for catching
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. bank — for money
  9. wake — a trail
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cue — a hint
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bore — to drill
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bore — to tire
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rock — music
  22. net — after costs
  23. net — in sport
  24. bank — for money

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