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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bore — to drill
  3. lie — to recline
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. field — a subject
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — tied together
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rock — a stone
  14. bound — certain
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. field — for sport
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. field — farmland
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rock — music
  24. bore — to tire

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