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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. craft — a skill
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bore — to tire
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. scale — in music
  10. foot — a measure
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. roll — a cake
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. craft — boats
  15. saw — the tool
  16. perch — the fish
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a great time
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. roll — a list
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. scale — size or range
  24. bore — gave birth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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