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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mug — a face
  5. root — of a word
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rock — a stone
  8. swing — to play on
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bound — obliged
  11. rock — music
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bore — to tire
  14. root — the cause
  15. swing — in golf
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. bound — certain
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bound — tied together
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bore — to drill
  24. swing — music

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