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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. staff — employees
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. press — to push
  6. staff — employees
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. stock — shares
  13. press — newspapers
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bore — to tire
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bulb — for light
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. stock — goods
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bark — to shout
  24. cue — a hint

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