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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. mug — to rob
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. bore — to drill
  6. mug — a face
  7. bore — to tire
  8. rush — hurry
  9. board — a committee
  10. track — a path
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. track — a song
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. board — to get on
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. mug — a cup
  22. lie — to recline
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bark — to shout

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