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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. stock — goods
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — to trim
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. tube — a container
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. tube — the underground
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. stock — shares
  15. dip — to sink
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. dip — to dunk

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