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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. row — a line
  5. bore — to tire
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. row — to paddle
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. cue — for pool
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. drill — the tool
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. drill — a practice
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cue — a signal
  19. bore — to drill
  20. pass — a permit
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. cue — a hint
  24. row — a quarrel

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