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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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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: dip · rush · can · sharp · saw · bore · bear · suit

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. dip — to sink
  8. bore — to drill
  9. can — to be able to
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. suit — in cards
  13. saw — the tool
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bore — to tire
  16. can — a tin
  17. sharp — clever
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. rush — hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. can — a tin
  24. suit — to fit

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