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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. bore — to drill
  3. staff — employees
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. drill — the tool
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. staff — employees
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — shares
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. staff — a stick
  16. club — for dancing
  17. drill — a practice
  18. bore — to tire
  19. drill — army training
  20. club — a group
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. club — for golf
  24. stock — a soup base

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