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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. club — for golf
  6. suit — to fit
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. branch — a division
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. suit — clothes
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. club — a group
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. club — for dancing
  18. stand — to bear
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bore — to tire
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. bore — to drill

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