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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: sharp · ball · hide · foot · bore · wax · fork · toast

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. ball — a great time
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. sharp — clever
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. toast — bread
  12. ball — a dance
  13. foot — a measure
  14. bore — to tire
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. wax — to grow
  22. fork — in a road
  23. bore — to drill
  24. foot — the bottom

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