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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bore — to drill
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. fall — to drop
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — of the year
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bore — to tire
  14. mine — for digging
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. branch — a division
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fall — the season
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. fall — to drop

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