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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: hide · suit · bore · last · hand · pass · stick · jam

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. last — to go on
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bore — to tire
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. last — final
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. suit — in cards
  14. hand — in cards
  15. pass — a permit
  16. last — finally
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. suit — clothes
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. suit — to fit
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. hand — help

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