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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: row · bore · net · nail · leaves · wave · fine · tube

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. row — a line
  5. tube — the underground
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. net — after costs
  8. bore — to tire
  9. fine — all right
  10. tube — a container
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. fine — high quality
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. row — to paddle
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. nail — for a hammer

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