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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. object — to protest
  3. cue — a hint
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rock — music
  8. object — an aim
  9. charge — electricity
  10. cue — a signal
  11. season — of the year
  12. rock — a stone
  13. charge — a price
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. object — a thing
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. cue — for pool
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bore — to drill
  22. charge — in control
  23. bore — to tire
  24. trunk — of a car

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