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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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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 · saw · bore · nail · bear · vault · leaves · mate

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bore — to drill
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. vault — a safe
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. cell — in biology
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. bore — to tire
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. saw — the tool
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mate — a friend
  22. mate — to breed
  23. cell — a phone
  24. bear — the animal

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