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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. current — electric
  3. current — happening now
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. root — of a plant
  7. staff — employees
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. pound — a weight
  11. staff — employees
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. root — the cause
  14. rest — a break
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. current — of water
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rest — what's left
  22. staff — a stick
  23. root — of a word
  24. rest — what's left

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