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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. track — to keep track
  3. ground — a position
  4. ground — crushed
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. content — happy
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. track — a song
  10. ground — the earth
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. chip — for betting
  15. bore — to tire
  16. can — a tin
  17. chip — to eat
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. track — a path
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. content — the amount
  23. wax — to grow
  24. safe — out of danger

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