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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mark — a trace
  3. row — a line
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. bound — tied together
  10. mark — a grade
  11. row — to paddle
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bound — certain
  14. suit — in cards
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. bore — to tire
  17. fine — all right
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. fine — high quality
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bound — obliged

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