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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  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. bore — gave birth
  3. staff — employees
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. staff — employees
  6. prune — to trim
  7. fine — high quality
  8. fine — all right
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — for digging
  12. object — an aim
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. prune — to trim
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — to recline
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. object — a thing
  21. staff — a stick
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. object — to protest
  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