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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. bore — to drill
  4. sharp — clever
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mug — to rob
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mug — a face
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. bulb — for light
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. last — final
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. last — to go on
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. dip — to sink
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. last — finally
  24. bore — to tire

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