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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 116 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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. bore — to drill
  3. season — of the year
  4. staff — a stick
  5. season — in sport
  6. club — for golf
  7. staff — employees
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. club — a group
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. staff — employees
  12. track — to keep track
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. club — for dancing
  19. snap — to click
  20. track — a song
  21. fine — all right
  22. bore — to tire
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. track — a path

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