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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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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: toast · track · present · cue · bore · spell · wake · root

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. present — there
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. present — a gift
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. cue — a signal
  8. present — the time now
  9. spell — a short time
  10. bore — to tire
  11. spell — letters
  12. cue — a hint
  13. wake — a trail
  14. track — a path
  15. spell — magic
  16. track — a song
  17. root — of a plant
  18. track — to keep track
  19. root — the cause
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. cue — for pool
  22. root — of a word
  23. toast — bread
  24. wake — before a funeral

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