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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  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. drill — a practice
  2. lie — to recline
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. cue — a hint
  5. stock — shares
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. drill — the tool
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. stock — goods
  12. bore — to tire
  13. key — in music
  14. cue — for pool
  15. drill — army training
  16. squash — the sport
  17. key — the most important part
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. squash — to crush
  21. key — for a lock
  22. cue — a signal
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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