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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.

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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bore — to drill
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bound — certain
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. game — a match
  12. mug — a face
  13. pop — soda
  14. pop — music
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. pop — to visit
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. game — wild animals
  21. bound — obliged
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bore — gave birth

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