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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bore — to drill
  3. lean — thin
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. charge — electricity
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rush — hurry
  9. pop — to visit
  10. bore — to tire
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. tube — a container
  14. charge — in control
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. charge — a price
  18. pop — soda
  19. tube — the underground
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. lean — to bend

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