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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bound — tied together
  5. staff — a stick
  6. bass — low music
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. can — a tin
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bass — the fish
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bore — to drill
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — certain
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — in cards
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. can — a tin
  22. staff — employees
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bound — obliged

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