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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. can — to be able to
  3. prune — to trim
  4. face — part of the head
  5. can — a tin
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. bore — to drill
  12. suit — clothes
  13. face — to confront
  14. prune — to trim
  15. suit — to fit
  16. can — a tin
  17. dip — to sink
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. face — to point toward
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bore — to tire
  23. suit — in cards
  24. dip — a sauce

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