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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bore — to drill
  4. race — a contest
  5. content — happy
  6. content — the amount
  7. bore — to tire
  8. key — in music
  9. sharp — clever
  10. key — for a lock
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. key — the most important part
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. race — the arms race
  19. mug — a face
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. race — humankind
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. wax — to grow

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