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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. vault — a safe
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. staff — employees
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. bound — certain
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. staff — employees
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. kid — to tease
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. plane — a tool
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bore — to drill
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. staff — a stick
  24. kid — child

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