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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. scale — in music
  3. bound — certain
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bore — to drill
  7. wax — to grow
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bound — tied together
  17. pass — a permit
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. scale — size or range
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bound — obliged
  24. hide — to keep secret

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