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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. row — a line
  3. bore — to drill
  4. row — to paddle
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bass — low music
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rock — music
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. rock — a stone
  13. mine — for digging
  14. bass — the fish
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. bass — the instrument

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