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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 116 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: cell · shower · bore · can · hide · row · wake · root

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. row — to paddle
  3. root — the cause
  4. row — a line
  5. wake — a trail
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. shower — rain
  10. cell — in biology
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. bore — to tire
  13. shower — to wash
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. root — of a word
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. root — of a plant
  24. cell — a phone

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