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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. row — to paddle
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bass — the fish
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. row — a line
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. key — in music
  15. bass — low music
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bore — to tire
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bass — the instrument

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