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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. fine — high quality
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bank — of a river
  5. saw — the tool
  6. present — a gift
  7. cue — a signal
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. present — the time now
  10. bank — for money
  11. bore — to drill
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. fine — all right
  14. present — there
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. season — of the year
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bank — for money
  22. bore — to tire
  23. cue — for pool
  24. bore — gave birth

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