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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: last · tear · root · bore · can · board · mate · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. board — to get on
  3. bore — to drill
  4. tear — from crying
  5. mate — a partner
  6. root — the cause
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mate — to breed
  9. tear — to rip
  10. root — of a plant
  11. last — final
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. board — a committee
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — to be able to
  18. root — of a word
  19. last — finally
  20. mate — a friend
  21. last — to go on
  22. bore — to tire
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. tear — from crying

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