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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
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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: bore · cue · bay · dip · saw · mouse · cabinet · sharp

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. cue — a hint
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. saw — the tool
  7. sharp — clever
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. bore — to tire
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a signal
  24. bore — to drill

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