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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bore — to drill
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wax — to grow
  7. game — wild animals
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. rest — what's left
  10. craft — a skill
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rest — what's left
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bore — to tire
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. craft — boats
  21. game — a match
  22. rest — a break
  23. foot — a measure
  24. craft — a handicraft

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