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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 120 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. suit — to fit
  3. field — a subject
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. face — to point toward
  6. field — farmland
  7. suit — clothes
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bore — to tire
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. suit — in cards
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. field — for sport
  22. face — to confront
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. fan — a supporter

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