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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  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. plane — a tool
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bore — to tire
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. fine — high quality
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. current — happening now
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mate — a friend
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. current — electric
  15. pitch — completely
  16. mate — a partner
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. fine — all right
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. current — of water
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bore — gave birth

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