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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: saw · bore · ball · toast · fine · bear · last · stick

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bore — to tire
  3. last — finally
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a great time
  7. saw — the tool
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. last — to go on
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. bore — to drill
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. last — final
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. bear — the animal
  17. toast — bread
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fine — all right
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bear — to put up with

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