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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 124 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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. can — a tin
  4. chip — to eat
  5. roll — a list
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. saw — the tool
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. toast — bread
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. track — a path
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. track — a song
  22. chip — for betting
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bore — to tire

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