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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: bore · bay · nail · rush · deal · temple · staff · craft

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bore — to drill
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. craft — a skill
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. staff — employees
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bore — to tire
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. staff — employees
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. craft — boats
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. rush — hurry

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