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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: pit · calf · can · racket · nail · spring · temple · bore

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pit — a hole
  5. spring — of water
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bore — to tire
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. spring — the season
  14. bore — to drill
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. spring — a coil
  17. can — a tin
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. pit — in a race
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. can — to be able to
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. temple — a place of worship

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