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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. bore — to tire
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lean — to bend
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. rock — music
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. lean — thin
  19. rock — a stone
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. ball — a dance
  23. pitch — completely
  24. bore — to drill

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