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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. drill — army training
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rash — a series
  5. bear — the animal
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. staff — employees
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. drill — a practice
  11. staff — a stick
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. press — newspapers
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. staff — employees
  19. bore — to drill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. press — to push
  22. rash — hasty
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. drill — the tool

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