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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. spell — a short time
  3. land — ground
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bore — to drill
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mug — a cup
  9. drill — a practice
  10. spell — magic
  11. land — a country
  12. board — to get on
  13. mug — a face
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. drill — the tool
  18. board — a committee
  19. spell — letters
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bore — to tire
  22. land — to come down
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rush — hurry

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