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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. scale — size or range
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. sharp — clever
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. object — a thing
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. rest — what's left
  13. board — to get on
  14. rest — a break
  15. lie — to recline
  16. board — a committee
  17. object — an aim
  18. scale — in music
  19. rest — what's left
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. object — to protest
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bore — to drill
  24. sharp — with an edge

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