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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. chip — to eat
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. bass — low music
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bank — for money
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bank — of a river
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. toast — bread
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bank — for money
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. dip — to sink
  23. chip — for betting
  24. saw — the tool

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