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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  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. staff — employees
  2. bore — to drill
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. wound — an injury
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. prune — to trim
  9. lie — to recline
  10. rest — what's left
  11. staff — employees
  12. root — of a plant
  13. rest — a break
  14. rest — what's left
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. root — of a word
  17. staff — a stick
  18. wound — an injury
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. root — the cause
  22. snap — to click
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  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