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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. date — the fruit
  3. sharp — clever
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bore — to tire
  7. craft — a skill
  8. toast — bread
  9. ball — a dance
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. net — after costs
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. net — in sport
  16. key — the most important part
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. net — for catching
  20. ball — a great time
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. craft — boats
  24. key — in music

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