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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 ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. mug — to rob
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. lean — thin
  10. bulb — for light
  11. staff — employees
  12. perch — the fish
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mate — to breed
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bore — to drill
  19. staff — employees
  20. bore — to tire
  21. mug — a face
  22. staff — a stick
  23. lean — to bend
  24. mate — a friend

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