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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bore — to tire
  4. face — to confront
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. face — to point toward
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. face — part of the head
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bore — to drill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. roll — a list
  19. saw — the tool
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. roll — a cake
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rush — a thrill

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