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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 120 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mug — a face
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. face — to confront
  11. mine — for digging
  12. bulb — for light
  13. face — to point toward
  14. bore — to drill
  15. face — part of the head
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rock — music
  18. bank — for money
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bank — for money
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. mine — belonging to me

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