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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. lie — to recline
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bore — to drill
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. bank — for money
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bore — to tire
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. season — in sport
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. bank — for money
  20. cell — a phone
  21. season — of the year
  22. bank — of a river
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cell — in biology

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