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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. ball — a dance
  4. pop — to visit
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. pop — music
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bore — to tire
  10. pop — soda
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. wax — to grow
  17. deal — to handle
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pass — a permit
  24. deal — a big deal

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