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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mark — a trace
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. pop — soda
  7. content — happy
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. content — the amount
  10. staff — employees
  11. bore — to drill
  12. pop — to visit
  13. mark — a grade
  14. cue — for pool
  15. staff — a stick
  16. bore — to tire
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pop — music
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. staff — employees
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. lie — to recline
  24. cue — a signal

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