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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: date · nail · leaves · toast · hide · bore · saw · lie

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lie — to recline
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bore — to tire
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. saw — the tool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. date — the fruit
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bore — to drill
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. toast — bread
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — of a tree

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