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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: rash · calf · cue · lie · bore · pop · rock · fall

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. lie — to recline
  3. pop — to visit
  4. cue — a hint
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fall — to drop
  7. cue — a signal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cue — for pool
  10. rash — hasty
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fall — to drop
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bore — to tire
  15. pop — soda
  16. rash — a series
  17. fall — the season
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rock — music
  24. pop — music

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