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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. drill — army training
  4. roll — a list
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. drill — the tool
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. can — to be able to
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bound — obliged
  17. bore — to tire
  18. roll — a cake
  19. mug — a cup
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. drill — a practice
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. pitcher — a jug

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