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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: can · key · date · leaves · perch · bore · snap · chip

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. chip — to eat
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. key — the most important part
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bore — to drill
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. can — a tin
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. key — for a lock
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. key — in music
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. date — the fruit
  19. chip — for betting
  20. snap — to click
  21. can — to be able to
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. bore — to tire

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