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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. rock — music
  7. swing — to play on
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. swing — music
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bore — to drill
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. rock — a stone
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bore — to tire
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. swing — in golf

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