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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: mug · roll · capital · pitch · pit · bore · sharp · wax

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. pitch — completely
  4. wax — to grow
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. mug — a cup
  7. capital — a big letter
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. capital — a city
  11. pit — in a race
  12. sharp — clever
  13. capital — money
  14. mug — a face
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. mug — to rob
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. roll — a list
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. bore — to tire
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. roll — a cake
  24. wax — for sculpting

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