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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. club — for golf
  3. club — a group
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. rock — music
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mate — to breed
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pit — in a race
  10. season — in sport
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mate — a partner
  13. pit — a hole
  14. season — of the year
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bore — to drill
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bore — to tire
  21. rush — hurry
  22. club — for dancing
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bowl — a dish

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