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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bore — to tire
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bore — to drill
  18. bulb — for light
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bark — to shout
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. wake — a trail
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. pass — to succeed

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