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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bore — to drill
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a song
  5. charge — in control
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mug — a cup
  9. charge — a price
  10. track — a path
  11. charge — electricity
  12. ground — the earth
  13. ground — crushed
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. ground — a position
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. mate — to breed
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. deal — to handle
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. mate — a friend
  23. bore — to tire
  24. deal — a big deal

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