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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 116 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: saw · pit · bore · charge · mine · game · fine · stick

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. game — a match
  3. fine — all right
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. game — wild animals
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. pit — a hole
  8. mine — for digging
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. saw — the tool
  12. charge — a price
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. fine — high quality
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bore — to tire
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. pit — in a race
  19. charge — in control
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. charge — electricity
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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