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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: key · game · race · hide · mark · bore · fan · rest

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. rest — what's left
  3. race — humankind
  4. key — the most important part
  5. race — the arms race
  6. game — a match
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. mark — a trace
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. rest — a break
  11. race — a contest
  12. bore — to tire
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bore — to drill
  15. key — in music
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. game — wild animals
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. rest — what's left
  23. key — for a lock
  24. hide — to keep secret

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