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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bore — to drill
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. toast — bread
  5. fall — to drop
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lie — to recline
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. fall — the season
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bore — to tire
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. fall — to drop
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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